Before I had children I had a fancy gym membership. I loved it. I spent around four hours a day there, using the gym, swimming, and using the sauna, steam room, cold plunge and hydrotherapy pool. It was a massive part of my week and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It helped that it was close to my place of work at the time. It kept me consistent, and as we know, consistency is key. When I changed jobs and had my first child it just didn’t work anymore. It was too far away, too expensive and my priorities had to shift.

Over the 16 years that followed and four children, the gym felt like a distant memory. I spent years trying to adapt my exercise to fit around my children, work and home life. I gradually built up my home equipment to ensure I always had a kettle bell, resistance band or set of dumbbells. to hand. I fitted exercise around breastfeeding, work, school runs, club runs, home tasks, life administration and so on. I dressed almost all the time in gym clothing, just in case I could squeeze in a few minutes, so I was already dressed for it. My theory was that this removed a further barrier.

Whilst I always did something it never felt like enough. My body always felt like it needed more.

As my children have got older it’s been more and more difficult to fit dedicated exercise time in at home. I’ve tried getting up early, leaving it until late and trying to fit it in during small pockets of time in the day. 

The reality is that life as a mum of four is busy. I spend a decent chunk of my day driving around to and from various things with and for the children and when I’m not doing that I’m trying to fit in work and house stuff too.

I was getting increasingly frustrated with my inability to make time for myself to push my body in the way I’ve wanted to for some time. I felt like I was loosing some of my strength and I’m not ok with that.

At the end of January I discovered that there was a 24 hour gym 15 minutes from my home with a month-to-month membership. I worked out that if I got up at 4am, I could leave the house whilst everyone was still asleep and my husband wasn’t at work, drive to the gym, workout for 1h15 and drive home before anyone woke up. 

Crazy right? A little, but consistency is key remember, so I couldn’t work out how else I could consistently go. I decided to try it for a month and see how I got on.

At the end of the first week I was buzzing with my new routine. Not only was I loving the exercise and all the machines, but I was loving the quiet, reflective time it also gave me. In addition to this, I was able to get home, get showered, sort out breakfast, put a wash on, sort the dishwasher and some days even prep dinner! All before anyone else in the house surfaced.

I decided to carry it on, fully appreciating that I would at some point hit a wall. That came about two months in. I’d been going in the main five days a week up until this point. I was still loving all the things I’d loved in week one, but I was exhausted. I decided to try not putting my contact lenses in for the gym and I decided to drop a day in the middle of the week to see if I could find a better balance.

Four months in now and this is what I’ve continued with. Four days a week, leaving me some flexibility if I can’t go one morning for some reason. I have to make sure I’m in bed by 11 those nights otherwise I’m struggling by mid-afternoon the next day. It’s not easy, it’s not easy at all, but it works and I’m no longer frustrated that I can’t fit it in during the evening because something has sabotaged it. It is the only way for me at the moment to ensure I can be consistent.

For parents, finding time to hit the gym can be a real challenge. Between work, school runs, meal prep, and other daily responsibilities, it can be tough to fit in a workout. This is where 24 hour gyms come in really handy. Here are some of the reasons why 24 hour gyms are a great option for parents.

Flexible Schedule

One of the biggest benefits of 24 hour gyms is that they offer a flexible schedule. With a 24 hour gym, parents can fit in a workout whenever it’s convenient for them, whether that’s early in the morning, during a lunch break, or late at night after the kids have gone to bed. This flexibility makes it easier to prioritise fitness, even when life gets busy.

No Crowds

Many parents find that traditional gym hours coincide with peak times for other gym-goers, meaning they may have to wait for equipment or fight for space. With a 24 hour gym, this is much less of an issue. Since there are no set hours, there are usually fewer people working out at any given time, which means no waiting for equipment and more space to move around.

Cost Effective

Some 24 hour gyms are more affordable than traditional gyms. This can be especially beneficial for parents who are looking for ways to stay active without breaking the bank. In addition, some 24 hour gyms offer discounts for families or monthly memberships, which can help parents save even more money.

Convenience

Perhaps the biggest benefit of a 24 hour gym is the convenience it offers. With a 24 hour gym, parents don’t have to worry about finding time to work out during regular business hours or rushing to make it to a class on time. They can work out on their own schedule and at their own pace, which can help them stick to a routine and reach their fitness goals.

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