By Jaime Rhoades

Considering the sometimes overwhelming demands that family and work and everyday life can put upon our daily schedules, finding time to exercise can seem like an impossibility. Workout time usually ends up near the bottom of the list of priorities, if it makes the list at all.

That’s unfortunate, as a good workout can help us better handle the other daily responsibilities of life.

Imagine a day that begins with you running out the door, with barely a moment to spare to fill your travel coffee cup. That sets the tone for the rest of the day, where there seems to be little time to get from one project to the next and the kids end up eating dinner from a drive-through window.

Start that same day with a brisk walk or a short jog in the early morning and what a difference it makes. That cup of coffee may be just as rushed, but it’s a feel-good kind of a rush; it seems like anything from that point forward can be accomplished with vigor.

Scheduling the time to add in that “energy rush” requires a little planning. Just like everything else that gets inked into your schedule; make an appointment with yourself. Some days it may be 45 minutes to an hour, others days 20 minutes may be the most you can allot. That’s okay, the crucial thing is to keep that appointment. Anyone that plans his or her day like this and keeps that personal appointment can tell you that it’s well worth it.

Along with the time issue, another common explanation for not working out is kids - what to do with them?

There seems to be a certain amount of guilt from working parents or even stay-at-home moms associated with taking additional time from the day for anything personal, as if taking that time somehow takes time away from their young children. In reality, the opposite is true. A happy, healthy parent who feels good about herself is leaps and bounds ahead of an over-stressed parent who is disappointed that nothing fits, and gets winded playing in the yard. Time for yourself is important to being the healthiest and best parent you can be, and moreover, a great role model to your kids.

The kids can have fun exercising with you, or if they are very young and that doesn’t seem to work, parents can take turns working out. If that doesn’t work, find a health club that provides a fun, safe, exciting atmosphere for your little ones that they can look forward to attending. They’ll meet new friends and enjoy seeing those friends several days a week. The kids will have fun, and soon learn that mom and dad are a lot more fun once they have finished their workout.

It takes planning, but as with any accomplishment, fitting time in the day for yourself will make you and everyone around you happier.

Jaime Rhoades is the director of operations at the Health Club at Southpointe. She can be contacted at 724-597-0014 or jaime@clubsouthpointe.com