How do YOU get enough rest?

S

smurfette

Cathlete
My favorite thing to do at night is to talk and visit with my husband after the kids go to bed. Unfortunately, I'm also trying to get up at 5 a.m. to workout. With home and school and workouts, I am just beat. I get burnt out very quickly.

Does anyone have suggestions on what strategies work for you?

Rest is critical to maintain a program, in my opinion. How do you keep going?

Danna
I ate junk yesterday too and that doesn't help the fatigue at all!!!!
 
What I've done to start is, I make sure everything has "it's place". I do not like any type of clutter around. So, when it comes time to pick up, there is no question why things are out.
My (Tues,Wed, Thurs) days go something like this:
wake up at 4:30
4:30 - 5: have coffee, get dressed and set up my step and dvd.
5-6:30: workout
6:30-7:30: get ready for work and my son ready for daycare.
7:30-8:20: clean around the house.
5:20pm: home from work
5:30-6:20: cardio
6:30-7: dinner
7-7:30: clean up, make lunch for the next day.
7:30-8:30 free time (phone calls, read, can be anything)
8:30-9: get my son to bed, read a story
9: I get myself washed up for bed

Keep in mind, even though I'm doing all those things; dinner etc. I'm still talking with my husband and son and playing during those times. A lot of time, my son is with my when I workout.

Monday and Fridays I completely clean the house, laundry, run errands and see friends. I dont work those two days in the office.

Making sure I get to bed as close to 9 as possible helps me get enough rest. I am dedicated to my workouts and I think that is what helps me keep going. I love the way I feel and I really enjoy the time I spend exercising. There have been times when the house gets disheveled and I'll spend too much time picking up, then I get to bed late and I'm tired the next day.

Susan C.M.:D
 
Hi Danna,

It is tough to get used to A.M. workouts, but this is the only time of day that many of us are guaranteed to get our workouts done. Be sure to start out slowly and with workouts that aren't too tough. What I mean is, don't attempt Imax 1 in the a.m. until you are used to a.m. workouts.

I used to eat prior to my workouts, but now I only eat if I am doing an extra long workout or run. If I do eat anything, it is usually a banana. I have also eaten a piece of toast. I have heard Cathe mention that diluted orange juice (1/2 juice, 1/2 water) is a good choice.

As far as getting enough rest, I am usually asleep by 9:00 p.m. That allows me to easily get up at 4-5 a.m. Sometimes my husband is resentful of my workouts because I do go to bed so early and he feels a little neglected in the evenings.

Good Luck,

Tina
 
Attention Susan!

What kind of meals do you prepare that only take 30 minutes? I'm trying to cook healthy and my meals are simple but I'm finding myself in the kitchen a lot this week! Thanks in advance for your help!
Angela
P.S. Plus I'm sure I will get faster as I get used to the recipe's and know more what I'm doing?:p
 
Thanks for the responses. It looks like you just have to be strong and go to bed.

I have three boys 9,8 and 5. How do those of you with older kids get it done? it is hard to juggle any activities we may want to have in the evening.

Keep the good suggestions coming!!!

Danna
 
I have found that I need to be really flexible and also I depend on my husband to help out. On weekdays, I usually get up early to get my workout done, but that schedule is really hard for me to keep up because I'm always tired. Lately, I have been doing some evening workouts on nights that my kids don't have activities so that I can stay in bed a little longer in the morning. My husband is really nice about watching the kids evenings and weekends so I can get my workout done. Actually, he watches my toddler in the morning if she wakes up before I'm done also - I'm lucky that he's so supportive or I wouldn't be able to be consistent.

It's really difficult to fit it all in. My older kids are up late and I need to get up so early to get my workout done before my toddler wakes up.

Good luck!

Erica
 
Hi,

I'm juggling with the same issues here. I have two young kids (5 months and 2years), so the only possible time to get an uninterrupted workout is before everyone else gets up. I also find it hard to go to bed right after 9pm.

What I try to do is schedule my workouts a little later (even an hour does wonders) in the weekends, when my husband can watch the kids (though I find it easiest to be almost done when they get up, as I work out in the living room, and it's hard to keep them away... but as long as they eat breakfast I can keep going). Also, I try to schedule my off days so that I can enjoy the extra time in the evening as much as possible. Also, I love to take even a short nap in the afternoon, even though that's not possible very often.

Anyway, hope you find ways to make it easier on yourself! Also, it's not so bad to miss a workout every now and then or make it shorter. Like you said, rest is really important too!

Good luck,
Maria
 
RE: Attention Susan!

>What kind of meals do you prepare that only take 30 minutes?
>I'm trying to cook healthy and my meals are simple but I'm
>finding myself in the kitchen a lot this week! Thanks in
>advance for your help!
>Angela


I mostly use a Turbo Cooker. That thing is amazing! I can cook salmon, steak, chicken and vegetables in it. It takes just a few minutes. It steams your food. I can cook the meat on the bottom and veggies on the top. There are so many meals you can make in it. It comes with lots of recipe cards. You can even make desserts.

Susan C.M.:D
 
RE: Attention Susan!

I get up at 3:30 every weekday because of work (no time to workout, that's just enough time to get myself ready, get lunch together and out the door), so getting enough rest is a challenge for me. I normally go to bed at 8:00 which helps some (but I'm naturally a bad sleeper). I've had to be firm with social engagements though...I just can't stay out if I'm going to be effective the next day, I have to say "no" a lot. It helps that I live alone so my time is my own.

I've had this schedule for so long now that I automatically wake up early even on weekends, so on weekends I use that time to workout. I find that as long as I get to bed around 8:00 I'm usually fine.
 
I can relate!! I'm up now at 4:30 AM to workout so I know I will do it for the day. I know if I wait until I get home in the evening, there's more of a chance I won't. Some evenings I'm falling asleep by 9:00 PM!! It's awful. My new job started three weeks ago, so I'm hoping I'll get used to this soon. I think my body is in shock being awake during the day - LOL!! I'm an RN, and for 18 years I worked nights and evenings. This is a welcome change, but a big one for me!!

Carol
:)
 
I have the same problem. I don't consider going to bed at 9:00pm early when you wake up at 4:30am to 5:30am. If I don't sleep at least ten hours, I am sleepy and tired during the day. Perhaps it is because I usually have a light sleep. When I sleep very deeply I feel rested. So, it really is a problem for me to workout early in the morning. (I was doing it, though.)

Also, when my two daughters go to sleep early, one of them wakes up early, too. So, this week I couldn't workout at all. This is so frustrating, especially when you really love working out, like me. What I will do is buy one of those little gates to block the entrance of the room that I workout in, instead of closing the door, so my daughters can still see me and I see them while I workout. They are four and almost three years old and the youngest one still interrupts a lot and might put herself into danger while I lift weights. But I'll put that gate in my "weights room" and workout while they watch TV in the other room. They are going to have to learn that sometimes Mami needs to do things that require time and concentration. If it doesn't work, I don't know what will.
 
I can totally understand about your kids being so young and you having a difficult time getting in a workout. My daughter is 13 now, but when she was as young as yours are now it was nearly impossible for me to workout without interruptions. In fact, I would say my workout times when she was that age were few and far between. Even though I worked evening shift then and you would think I'd have time somewhere in the morning for a 45 minute workout, it used to amaze me how I couldn't seem to fit it in.

Just hang in there and do what you can, when you can. It will pay off, and they don't stay that young forever. They will eventually come to understand how important your workouts are to you, and think of the wonderful example you're setting for them! My daughter has worked out with me - granted it's an off and on kind of thing with her though - for years now. She sees the positive changes it yields in me, and I can't help but believe one day it will all sink in for her too.

Hang in there! It will work out for you because you're committed to it.

Carol
:)
 
Um......I take naps.:eek: I LOVE my nap.In the run of a week,I will probably have 4 naps in the middle of the day.(when I am not working)
Some mornings I work at 6:30, when I get off it is 10:30 ,then I go back to work at 1.Sometimes I will try and make the decision,Cathe or a nap.
My nap could only be 15 min but it gets the job done.I can fall asleep at the drop of a hat.Other then my naps, I try to get around 7-8 hours of sleep a night and that usually helps alot to.
LOri:)
 
I have established a very doable schedule for myself. My son will be 2 in 2 weeks. My day looks like this:

6:30 get up and get ready for work
7:00 make DH & my lunch and snacks for day
7:15 wake up son and dress
7:30 leave house and drop son off at daycare
8:00 work begins
5:00 work ends
5:30 arrive home, get changed, take son and dog for 2.5 mile run
6:00-6:30 make dinner & eat
6:30-7:45 playtime with son or he will play by himself while I straighten the kitchen or return calls
7:45 bathtime (my son does not like baths)
8:00 read book(s) and say prayers
9:00 put DS to bed & do 1 hour workout
10:00 shower
10:30 my bedtime

I'm like clockwork with my schedule, but I get a chance to fit in almost everything I would like to do. My son goes to bed with no problems since I have established this schedule with him. Also, since I work 40 hours a week I don't worry a lot about cleaning the house other than doing the dishes on a nightly basis and straightening up the house. I also spend time and talk with my DH from 6:30-9. I primarily clean house and run errands on the weekend when I have more time and my son loves helping me. Of course the older he gets the more activities he will be doing, but I can adjust my schedule as needed.
 
I'm always struggling with time and feel constantly tired! I get up at 4:45am to work out, three times a week. i use to do it every day but it was just too much! i need at least 8 hours of sleep otherwise i'm bagged. my kids - aged 4 and 2 still get up really early and my 2 year old still gets up at times at night. this week i noticed he's getting two molars - so he's been up a lot crying.

I am always tired but i'm forging ahead with my workouts because they are important. i'm always getting colds and flu bugs - but apparetnly that's normal with little kids who are always picking up things at day care and school.

I also find it hard eating clean - it requires lots of prep time and chopping veges and preparing lunches and dinner at night. but, its worth it.

If i go to bed later than 9pm - I'm wiped the next day! i never watch TV because i just can't keep up late.

I think you are experiencing something normal.
 
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