Lose weight, build muscle, and tone up, with this busy mom workout schedule! This at-home workout routine is perfect for new moms struggling to find time for exercise.
Learn how to find time to work out, how many times you should work out each week and what a busy mom workout program should look like. Then, find some space and get to work!
As a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and busy mom of three, I've seen the struggle first hand when it comes to setting a workout schedule with kids.
And I won't lie, it's not easy and it takes some getting used to.
However, once you have a good training program on hand and you use the tips below to learn how to work out with kids in the gym, it gets easier!
Use the workout schedule and sample programs below and follow along with the tips for fitting a training program into a busy schedule.
Hint: things like a 10 minute workout for moms helps immensely on busy days!
The Busy Mom Workout Schedule
Monday: Lower Body Strength
Tuesday: Upper Body Strength
Wednesday: Rest Day
Thursday: Full Body Strength
Friday: Rest Day
Saturday: At Home Cardio HIIT
Sunday: Rest Day
This workout schedule allows you to target all the major muscle groups in your body while still giving your muscles the rest time they need.
The workouts themselves are done in just thirty minutes and can be done at home with just a set of dumbbells (though some of the workouts use just your bodyweight!).
Scroll down to grab the details of each workout program and of course, fuel up with these healthy snacks for busy moms afterward!
How To Find Time As A Busy Mom To Work Out
Listen, I get it. Between diapers, toddlers' play groups, naps, a messy house, and ALL THE THINGS, it's not easy to find time for fitness.
But "not easy" doesn't mean it's not doable to exercise regularly. Finding small pockets to fit in quick workouts for busy moms can work too.
But for something more strategic, below are a few crucial tips to rocking a busy mom workout schedule!
Expect Less
STOP thinking that your workout needs to be 45-60 minutes in length and that it will happen uninterrupted. It won't.
Instead, aim for 20-30 minutes and know that it's okay to stop and change a baby, read a book, or do a silly dance. That's all part of the system when working out with kids.
Likewise, because time is always a factor, this is one of the reasons every mom should work out at home.
Be Strategic
If you're working out with your kids, you need a bit of a plan.
Meaning, have toys that they only use in the gym (so that they're excited by them), work out while they're eating breakfast or lunch in a bumbo, or put on a show.
Don't try and only squeeze workouts into naptimes. For one, there's always too much to do during naptime and two, long naps don't exist (at least not in my house!). Yous et yourself up for frustration.
Get Up Earlier
No one wants to hear this. Sorry. For working moms with a busy schedule your options for a fitness routine are to do it early or late.
And late night workouts rarely happen.
Instead, try getting into the habit of getting up twenty minutes earlier (if your kids are awake give them breakfast while you work out!), and doing it before work.
Remember, workouts don't have to be long they just need to happen.
Show Up
This is the most important part. Your workout routine will rarely go as planned. Know that something is always better than nothing and showing up counts.
Busy Mom Workout Routine
This workout schedule is split into four workout days with an emphasis on strength training.
Strength training as a mom is crucial to prevent injuries, lose weight, and keep up with your kids (learn more about the benefits of resistance training).
They workouts themselves take under thirty minutes to complete and some of them under twenty.
The goal is to use functional strength training to hit every major muscle group and give you the biggest bang for your buck time wise.
This means there's an emphasis in the basic movements moms need to master, exercises for the posterior chain (back of the body). The exercises are all low impact (no jumping!) and can be done by beginners or those used to training.
You find many bicep curls here, instead, these at home workouts are geared towards the exercises that hit the most muscle groups at once.
Monday: Leg Day
A1. Paused Goblet Squats x10
A2. Side lying hip raise x8/side
x3 sets with 45 seconds rest between sets
B1. Dumbbell Hip Thrust x12
B2. ½ Kneeling Parlof Press x5/side
B3. Plank Dips x30s
x3 sets with 45 seconds rest between sets
C1. Sliding Hamstring Curls x10
x2 sets with thirty seconds rest between sets
To perform the leg workout: perform the goblet squats and hip raises back to back for the reps listed. Rest for 45 seconds and repeat the exercises back to back. Do this for a total of three rounds before moving on to the "B" grouping.
Tuesday: Upper Body
A1. Inverted Pike Press x6
A2. 1 Arm Dumbell Row x10/arm
A3. Superman with arm row x8
x3 rounds with 45 seconds rest between sets
B1. Eccentric Push Up x5
B2. Toe taps x30s
x2 rounds with 30 seconds rest between sets.
C1. Rocking Plank x30s
x2 rounds with 20 seconds rest between sets.
To perform the upper body workout: perform the presses, rows, and supermans back to back for the reps listed. Rest for 45 seconds and repeat the exercises back to back. Do this for a total of three rounds before moving on to the "B" grouping.
Thursday: Full Body Strength
A1. Bulgarian Split Squat x8/leg
A2. Towel pulls x5
A3. Clamshells x15/side
x3 rounds with 45 rest between sets
B1. Feet Elevated Glute Bridge x15
B2. Dumbbell Pull Over x8
B3. Bear Crawls x20 seconds
x2 rounds with 45 seconds rest between sets.
To perform the total body workout: perform the first three exercises back to back for the reps listed. Rest for 45 seconds and repeat the exercises back to back. Do this for a total of three rounds before moving on to the "B" grouping.
Saturday: Cardio HIIT At Home
A1. Dumbbell Squat & press x10
A2. Reverse Plank To Pike x20s
A3. 1 Arm Dumbbell Row x8/arm
A4. Step Out Lunge x20s/leg
A5. Rolling Squat x30s
How to perform the at home HIIT workout: perform all the exercises back to back for the repetitions listed. At the end of the rolling squats, rest for 60 seconds and then repeat the circuit for a total of three times through.
Workout Equipment For Busy Moms
There is no one thing that is going to make or break your workouts. In fact, you can get fit with a variety of equipment.
For busy moms setting up at home I recommend any combination of the following:
- Resistance bands and a mini loop
- 1 set of dumbbells
- One or two kettlebells
- A yoga mat
- TRX Suspension straps
Learn more about the most cost effective gym equipment for small spaces but know that you can make anything work.
It's not the equipment, its the consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions About Busy Mom Workouts
The trick to working out as a busy mom is focusing on consistency and not duration. Be active when you can, even if it's chaotic. If you work outside of the house, get up twenty minutes earlier to get your workout in. Skip the gym and learn how to work out effectively at home to save time. And if you're working out with kids, learn to embrace the chaos and find unique ways to keep them entertained.
The best workout routine is the one you'll stick to! Aiming for workouts that are roughly 20 minutes long and completing them on a regular basis is the best kind fo system. make sure you are constantly challenging yourself with muscle engagement and activation in order to achieve the best results. For long term results like weight loss and muscle tone, opt for strength training at home over cardio-based workouts.
Strive to work out four times per week for 20-30 minutes. On the days you're not working out with a plan, aim to just be active. Stretch, go for walks, and play with your kids. This will give you the best results.
Other Resources To Help You With Your Fitness Goals
Getting back into a workout routine as a busy mom is scary. Make sure to self test for diastasis recti, learn more about how to heal diastasis recti, and rock these crucial postpartum exercises before diving in.
And below is a few more resources to make sure you kick off your fitness journey the RIGHT way!
- Why you should avoid jumping postpartum
- The best busy mom workout
- Everything you need to know about your pelvic floor
- How to do push ups when you're a complete beginner
- Glute training 101: everything you need to know
- The ultimate guide to at home workouts
- 6-week fat loss workout plan
- 10 minute diastasis recti workout
- 3 day dumbbell workout plan
- the best back exercises you can do at home
- At home shoulder workout for moms
- Follow-along at home workouts
- Fitness tips for busy moms
Remember, a lot goes into fitness goals as a busy mom. And a good night's sleep can have a major effect (jokes on us, who gets sleep!). Factor in eating healthy and you truly do need a well-rounded approach.
That said, it is %100 to start with one thing, crush it, and then move on to the next.
A new workout routine can be a bit daunting. Take the time to figure out a plan and you'll be better off and well on your way towards achieving your goals.
Shelby aka Mama Bear
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