the golden hour by guest mom mandi.

First of all, let me thank Petit Elefant for allowing me to be a guest blogger this week. I have had a ball! I appreciate all your ideas, feedback, questions, and dialogue about my favorite two topics: fitness and family. Keep it comin’!

I have always been a morning person. I remember as a kid, waking up while it was still dark outside and sneaking out to our black and white television with no knobs (I had to turn the channels with my teeth). As I watched the Electric Company, I would see my mother out of the corner of my eye quietly leave the house for her early morning jog/walk.

This is my golden hour. The alarm doesn’t even have to go off and my eyes are wide open. I can’t help but think I am part feline since after eleven years of waking up this stinkin’ early, I no longer need light to navigate my way around the house. In pitch blackness I can throw on the workout clothes, strap on the heart rate monitor, clip back the hair, grab my slice of bread and water bottle, and I’m outta there.

As women we have ridiculous amounts of things to get done in a given day. We give to the kids, to the school, to the neighbors, to our husbands, to church, to our jobs, to the house… It is so easy to jump head first into the “To Do” list and never get around to giving back to yourself.

Carving out some time daily for your workout is essential. Yes, reasonable flexibility is important, but in the end I have a policy:

the workout wins.

Selfish? Possibly, however I find it pivotal to my happiness and productivity while trying to wear all the hats that I do.

So, when is your golden hour? Maybe it is your morning hour at the gym (hallelujah for childcare!) or the jog with the kids in the stroller. Perhaps it is sweating with Jillian Michaels after bedtime or hiking while the kids are at school and the baby is strapped to your back.

Look at your day tomorrow and schedule your golden hour. It will feed and strengthen not only your body, but spirit and mind.

Find more great fitness ideas by Mandi at Trainer Momma.