Staying Fit - Tips for Call Center Moms

As a mom who works in a call center, I know how hard it can be to juggle everything that needs to be done with the crazy schedule that we have. From making sure that the kids are eating right, down to making sure that homework are done on time while trying to force ourselves to stay awake Let's add to these the housework, errands plus parenting itself.

I don't know about you but there are days when all I wanna do when I get home home from work is plop on the bed put a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on my forehead and never get up until the following week. Wishful thinking. I can't even sneak in a nap most days!

Our lives generally revolve around family, kids and work that sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves until one day we realize we're in our 30's and we see fine lines around our eyes, we feel the creaky bones and simply just do not have the energy to do anything else aside from what's necessary.

Not good. Always remember that in order for us to give our best, we must take care of ourselves first.

This year has been life changing for me. I now go to the gym, I do yoga and I try to eat healthier foods. These are things that I said I will never do about 3 years ago. "NEVER! I do not have time for all these things!" Then I started getting sick, felt lethargic and grew eye bags as big as Mt. Everest. Then I changed my mantra to "I need to make time for these things!"

I admit, it can be hard at first but once you get the hang of it, it's not impossible. To help you jump start your own Operation: Love Yourself, I have listed a few tips below.

1. You have to want it

I don't think any amount of goading or invitation from friends who go to the gym will ever make you want to do it. Yes, you might want to join them for a session or two, but if your heart's not in it, there's a big chance that you will give up right away. You have to want to do it for yourself and not for anything or anybody else.

2. Little things count!

If you think that a 30-minute brisk walk is useless, think again! 30 minutes of exercise is better than zero! For now, a 45 minute run or walk on the treadmill 3-4 times a week is all I could afford and I'm fine with it! I go to the gym after shift and I never go beyond 45 minutes because as much as I want to work on my gluteus maximus (so I will look good in skinny jeans! LOL), I also want to be home at least a couple of hours before dinner so I can still talk or play with my kids.

3. Make exercise a family activity

I always feel guilty whenever I do something for myself so when I started doing yoga, it felt like I was cheating my family off of my time with them. Solution? Make them do YOGA too!

I used to go to a studio for yoga but because I don't like leaving the house more than necessary (MOM GUILT!), I decided to just do it at home. The good thing is that my 5-year-old daughter now does it with me. She loves our sessions so much that she would actually ask that we "excercise" whenever were not doing anything. I have to admit, I haven't convinced my son and my husband to do this yet but they are fun spectators! Best part is, I'm able to have quality bonding time with my daughter and there's zero guilt!

4. Motivate yourself

Look for the something that will push you to exercise. Be it a nice dress that you wanna wear on your wedding anniversary, getting your summer body ready for next year or simply just wanting to stay healthy so will live to see your kids graduate from college or get married. Personally, I want to set a healthy example for my kids. They are at that stage where they are forming their own personalities and habits and I want them to see that health is something that we do not take for granted. Plus, I want to fit into my old jeans again. ;)

Whatever it is that will drive you off the couch and get moving, focus on that.

5. Don't let work schedule discourage you

Working in a call center drives your body clock crazy because of the shifting schedules. When I was still an agent, I always had a hard time going to sleep during day time that I was literally running on coffee and 2-3 hours sleep each day. Wreaked havoc on my health! But there is still hope! If you are having a hard time falling asleep, there are many relaxation exercises or stretches that can help promote sleep! Just follow them and you will hit 2 birds with one stone! Your body gets the much needed exercise and it can help resolve sleeping problems.

Whenever I don't have time to go  to the gym because of work schedule, I do leg exercises and planking on the bed before I go to sleep or do squats in the shower. You can even do squats while cooking!

The hardest part of working out is how to start but there's no other way other than to just get up an do it.

For more tips, you can check out my 5 Easy Ways to Stay Fit for Working Moms.

* Disclaimer: I am not a professional health instructor. I am only sharing what works for me. Please consult your doctor prior to making any change related to health.


Jhanis V. - Top 10 Blogs Voice Boks Comedy Edition, featured on BlogHer.com, HumorWriters.org, Bloggys 2015 - Finalist, Family and Relationships Category. She blogs at The Vanilla Housewife and The Cebu Gazette.