Summer is in full swing, and it’s probably feeling like a whirlwind—vacations, camps, later bedtimes, meals on the go, and a house full of so much activity (and probably a little chaos).
And if you’re a mom trying to keep up a workout routine, it’s easy to fall into the trap of “If I can’t do it perfectly, I might as well not do it at all.” But, stop. We need to ditch the “all or nothing” mindset!
Here is the truth about your workouts. Done is better than perfect. Something always beats nothing. And most importantly, “good enough” can get you great results when you stick with it.
What is “perfect” anyway? Is it working out five days a week? Hitting a step goal? Never missing a planned workout? The problem with perfection is that it can be a moving target, especially in a season when your schedule isn’t your own. If your workouts rely on everything going just right, you’re setting yourself up for skipped workouts and guilt.
Here is what you need to do instead. Strive for flexibility and consistency, rather than rigidity.
A “good enough” summer can be a 10-minute bodyweight circuit while the kids eat breakfast. A walk while they ride bikes or scooters beside you. Taking them to the pool and swimming with them. (Although getting there is a workout in and of itself.) Trying to do 2–3 full workouts per week, not five.
But the biggest thing to aim for is showing up when you said you would, even if it’s shorter than planned. It may not be “perfect,” but it will certainly add up.
The best things about the “good enough” mentality are that it can reduce stress around workouts—you’re not constantly “making up” for missed days. You’ll keep the momentum going for when fall rolls around. But the single best thing is that you’re teaching your kids that self-care isn’t all or nothing—it’s just something we do, in small ways, all the time.
You don’t need a perfect schedule to show up for yourself. We all know that nothing about summer is perfect or routine. You need a little space, a little grace, and a reminder that “good enough” is not settling—it’s sustainable. Keep going. Keep showing up. That’s more than enough.
