Kelcey Carlson and Dave Kent use a joint schedule and a network of friends and family to carve out time for exercise. From left to right (standing): Dave Kent holding son Kellen, Kelcey Carlson with son Charlie, Tom Carlson (Kelcey’s dad), and Ryan Hamlin (running friend). Kneeling are Rachel Hahn (sitter) and Laura Avent (running friend).
Kelcey Carlson and her husband, Dave Kent, do not work typical schedules, but they are just like other working parents who are always trying to give their children the best – the best schools, the best sports teams, the best summer camps, the best play dates … the list goes on. Kelcey and Dave work together to create a schedule and use a support network that allows time for exercise and you can too. There are 24 hours in every day, so there’s no need to rush from activity to activity tortured by the ominous flashing of the gas light on your dash when you’re trying to make it through rush-hour traffic. Here are some tips to help you find time to run, even if it’s only 20 or 30 minutes.
- Write out a schedule with your spouse. You are both much more likely to follow a written-out joint schedule than a vague plan to squeeze in a few weekly runs.
- Keep running shoes and clothes in your car at all times. Buy a small bin to keep it all in your trunk. That way, if you do happen to get a short window of time at lunch or at your kids’ soccer practice, you’ll be able to fit in a quick run.
- Keep baby wipes in your gear bin. If you do squeeze in a run, no one else has to know about it – or smell it.
- Wake up early. It may be hard for some people to believe, but studies have shown morning people are happier and more successful than night owls. Getting up earlier than your spouse and children creates free time for you.
- Run with a friend or a group of friends. If you are supposed to meet a friend for a 6 a.m. run, you are accountable to someone other than just yourself – and a lot more likely to follow through.
