Hi Friend!
Happy Holiday Season to you! I hope you're Thanksgiving was great. November is a full month for our little family as we've got our wedding anniversary (the top photo), Vanessa's birthday and Turkey Day. There are so many things we've been thankful for this month and the December holiday season hasn't even arrived yet.
One challenge we've had when Vivi was younger was getting in our workouts. It was easier for me to get workouts in on my work day vs. Vanessa on her work days, but it was equally hard for both of us to get workouts in at home, when its only 1 of us. We still haven't mastered this one yet when we're parenting 1-on-1, but we make do by getting in sprints to and from the playground and playing at the playground.
UGIG The big discovery was taking UGIG (You Go I Go), that we use with our group personal training members (aka boot camp), in which one person does sprints, while the other rests, thereby creating a 1:1, work to rest ratio, and bringing it home.
We use it at home, when one person works out, while the other person does the parenting, and then we switch. Its not as ideal as when we can get family workouts in like hikes, playgrounds, sport practice or scootering, but it let's us get a break, check the self-care box, work on getting stronger vs. praying to be stronger and it primes our day.
Most of the time, but not always we do it in the morning. One person goes first, while the other starts the day, gets dressed, makes beds and breakfast, etc., then the other returns, eats, and goes and takes Vivi out for some playtime, while the 2nd parent gets their workout in / time for their self.
It's not perfect, but it's working.
It works so well, that we've applied it to chores, paying bills, computer work we need to do, etc...
Basically, anytime that's family time, that you need to do something important for yourself, you first talk about it with your partner / the other people involved and you state what you'd like to do, where and for how long and then ask if they'd like to take turns, and then circle back together.
Most times if you present it well, it'll be received well. Everyone needs to do self-care, so this can be a win-win, and everyone needs to do things around the house, pay bills and sometimes work, that might be by yourself activities. If you communicate clearly what you'd like to do, set boundaries via time limits, define where you're going to work and what's going to happen when you come back, then there's a good chance UGIG will work not only with workouts, but with doing solo activities at home during family time.
Again, it's not perfect, but it's working. And we're making progress. That's important.
The take home message is to look for ways you can use UGIG to get your self-care in and maybe other solo tasks too.
Learning through trial and error,
Coach Mike
p.s. when you're ready to make prayers to be stronger, wishes for more energy, and hopes that the mirror or scale will finally change, here are 3 ways I may be able to help them come true.
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