How We Balance Fitness As Busy Parents

Being in our 40s with two kids, full-time schedules, and a growing list of responsibilities, we know how easy it is to put fitness last. Life gets busy — and it never really slows down. But somewhere along the way, we realized something important:

If we wait for the “perfect time” to train… it’ll never come.

So instead of waiting, we just got started. If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way to make it work.

Our Family Routine

We’ve got a 13-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter, so our schedules revolve around school, sports, and everything in between. Chanh works full-time Monday through Friday, while Quynh manages the house, runs her own business (a special ed lesson plan membership), and keeps the household flowing.

That means for Quynh, workouts usually happen during the day — after school drop-offs, during kid sports practices, or once the laundry’s going. For Chanh, it’s more of an after-work or weekend grind. We also try to make use of every other Friday, when Chanh takes off work so we can exercise (or just hang out) together.

It’s not always perfect, but it’s consistent.

Who Does What

We split things pretty naturally. Quynh handles groceries, meal planning, cooking, and the day-to-day logistics of being a rockstar mom and wife. Chanh takes care of financial planning, budgeting, car stuff, and supports wherever needed. Then there are things we both contribute to like yard work, house projects, and of course, kid activities!

When it comes to fitness, we usually check in with each other at the start of the week — “What’s the plan?” “What are you doing this week?” Now that we’re training for the Marine Corps Marathon, we’re more structured than before, but even before that, we tried to keep a general rhythm.

Some weeks we train at the same time (especially weekends or off Fridays). Other times, we’re taking turns squeezing it in around the kids’ schedules. We’ll also get out in the evenings when there aren’t sports practices for some pickleball — our go-to date night workout.

Real-Life Roadblocks

We’re not immune to the usual excuses — being tired from work, feeling sore, or needing to drive the kids to their sports practices/school events/playdates. Sometimes there’s a school event or a last-minute friend hangout that shifts our schedule.

But we don’t let that derail us. We work around it.

The biggest motivator? Each other. When one of us gets moving, it creates momentum. Quynh usually trains earlier in the day, which pushes Chanh to follow through after work.

We don’t use any fancy apps to keep us on track — just our Garmin watches and a shared mindset. We sign up for events (5Ks, 10Ks, pickleball tournaments) to keep the fire lit. Having something on the calendar always helps.

Fitness Is Our Team Effort

Almost every day, one of us asks the other: “What’s your workout today?”

We’ve always been a little (or a lot) competitive — in the best way. Quynh’s the better runner (for now), but Chanh’s catching up. There’s a playful rivalry between us that keeps things fun, whether it’s pushing each other to go farther or just sticking to the plan.

Most often, we play pickleball together, whether it’s doubles with friends or just with each other. We also try to run together every now and then even if we have different goals. It’s important to us that we also stay active as a family – as our kids get older, it’s even more fun because we can all spend time being active together. The kids have run in a few 5Ks with us. They also enjoy kayaking, ziplining, and most outdoor activities.

The key is: we keep moving — together or apart — and we support each other every step of the way.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Too Busy

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this:

You’re never too busy if you’re motivated and know your why.

We’re not fitness influencers. We’re just two parents trying to stay strong, healthy, and active — for ourselves, for each other, and for our kids.

And we don’t do it alone. It’s easier with a team — whether that’s your spouse, a friend group for races, or a local cycling crew like the one Chanh rides with once or twice a week.

So if you’re trying to balance it all, know this: it doesn’t have to be perfect. You just have to start — and keep showing up. That’s what makes the difference.

Thanks for reading!

If you’re a parent juggling fitness and family, we’d love to hear your routines, wins, and challenges in the comments.

— Written by Chanh & Quynh • May 22, 2025