How To Find Time To Train As A Busy Parent

Caitlyn Davey • April 2, 2025

As a busy parent juggling work, family, and countless responsibilities, it can often feel like there’s simply no time left for yourself.


However, applying Parkinson’s Law—the idea that "work expands to fill the time available for its completion"—can be a game-changer in reclaiming time for your health.


By setting dedicated, focused time for exercise and self-care, you’ll not only boost your own well-being but also enhance the quality of time you spend with your family.


Understanding Parkinson’s Law

Parkinson’s Law, first introduced by British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson, suggests:

  • The more time we allocate to a task, the longer it takes to complete.
  • When we limit the time for a task, we complete it more efficiently.


What this means for parents:
Even with a busy schedule, you can
create time for your health—by committing to it purposefully.


Why One Hour of Exercise is Not Selfish

Spending one hour a day on your health isn’t indulgent—it’s an investment.


Here’s why it’s absolutely worth it:

  • Increased Energy Levels
    ➔ Exercise boosts energy, making you more productive and engaged in every area of life.
  • Stress Relief
    ➔ Physical activity is a proven stress reliever, helping you stay calm, patient, and focused.
  • Setting a Positive Example
    ➔ Modeling healthy habits encourages your children to prioritise their own well-being.
  • Quality Over Quantity
    ➔ When you’re physically and mentally well, the time you spend with family becomes more
    meaningful and enjoyable.


Tips for Making Time for the Gym


1. Prioritise Your Health

  • Treat your workouts like important appointments.
  • Block time in your schedule—and stick to it.


2. Choose Child-Friendly Facilities

  • Many gyms offer childcare services or are family-friendly.
  • This allows you to train while your kids are safely occupied.


3. Involve Your Family

  • Turn exercise into a family activity with hikes, bike rides, or weekend fitness classes.


4. Opt for Efficient Workouts

  • Try high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or circuit sessions.
  • Maximise your results with effective 30–60 minute routines.


5. Find Your Best Time

  • Whether it’s early morning before the day begins or evening after the kids are asleep—pick a consistent time that fits your lifestyle.


Reaping the Benefits

By adhering to Parkinson’s Law and dedicating one focused hour a day to your health:

  • Your productivity, energy, and mental clarity will improve.
  • You’ll be more present and engaged during family time.
  • You’ll experience better overall well-being, making you a stronger, happier parent, partner, and professional.


Taking care of yourself is not selfish—it’s essential.
When you prioritise your health, you:

  • Set a powerful example for your children
  • Create a positive ripple effect through your entire family


Final Thought

✅ Make that one hour count.
Your health, your happiness, and your family will thank you.

Previous Blogs

July 22, 2025
If you live in Wynnum or Capalaba , chances are you’ve seen a bootcamp in action — high-intensity sessions in parks, with lots of burpees, sprints, and shouting. While bootcamps can be a fun way to get sweaty, there’s a reason more people are choosing structured strength training instead. At Rebuild, we often meet people who’ve jumped from one bootcamp to another, chasing results they never quite achieve, or can’t maintain. Here’s why strength training, not bootcamp-style fitness, is the smarter long-term approach for your health and body. 1. Progress Over Punishment Bootcamps often focus on burning calories and pushing people to their limits every session. It feels intense — but it’s usually random. There’s no plan beyond “go hard”. Strength training is different. It’s measured, progressive, and adaptable . Whether you’re lifting a barbell or doing bodyweight movements, the goal is to build skill, strength, and confidence over time. You're not punished for where you're at — you're coached toward where you want to be. 2. Stronger Muscles = Better Results Cardio-heavy bootcamps might help you lose weight quickly, but they rarely help you build muscle, and muscle is the key to long-term fat loss, strength, and mobility . When you train with resistance (weights, bands, or bodyweight), your body becomes more efficient. You burn more calories at rest, move better, and feel more capable in everyday life. And unlike bootcamps, strength training actually preserves lean mass while you're in a calorie deficit — which matters if your goal is body composition, not just weight loss. 3. Individual Coaching Matters Most bootcamps have one instructor yelling instructions to a big group. There’s rarely time to check your technique, let alone adjust for injuries, experience, or confidence levels. At Rebuild, our group sessions are coach-led and purpose-built . We take time to teach proper form, scale movements to your ability, and track your progress. You're not just surviving a workout — you’re learning how to move better and train smarter. 4. It’s Not Just About Today’s Workout Bootcamps often lack structure. You show up, do something exhausting, and leave. There’s no continuity or long-term planning. Strength training follows a programmed approach , meaning each week builds on the last. You’ll have sessions designed to improve specific movements and outcomes — whether that’s lifting more weight, increasing core strength, or mastering your first pull-up. That structure keeps you consistent, motivated, and injury-free. 5. Sustainability Over Shock Tactics If you’re tired of the “go hard or go home” mentality, strength training is for you. It’s adaptable to all ages, bodies, and goals . You’ll get fitter, stronger, and more confident — without burning out or breaking down. Ready to train with purpose? If you're looking for something better than a bootcamp in Wynnum or Capalaba , join us at Rebuild. We coach real people — not fitness models — to get real results. 📍 Structured training 📍 Expert coaches 📍 Community that has your back You don’t need to be fit to start. You just need to start.
July 22, 2025
A lot of people have completed a marathon but how many people have collapsed at 40km?

Sometimes you do everything right, and shit still doesn’t go to plan.
 Last weekend I ran in the Gold Coast Marathon, my first ever marathon. I trained properly, my body felt relatively good (all things considered when preparing to run 42.2km), I carb-loaded, and my race day nutrition was dialled in.
 I was ready.
 We set off. Jess and the kids met me at different points on the course with signs, the atmosphere was great. I loved seeing the kids with their signs. Pacing felt on point. The first 21km? Easy. I felt great. Maybe I should’ve drunk more water, but I didn’t think too much of it at the time.
 At 25km, I felt slower, but pace wise I was still holding well. I’d kept telling myself throughout the day "The race starts at 30km." And let me tell you, it does.
 By 30km, the sun was out, and I was starting to struggle. My watch started glitching so I had no real idea of my splits. I thought I was slowing down a lot (turns out I wasn’t), but the effort to keep the same pace suddenly felt 10x harder.
 I hadn’t taken on enough water. Usually, I can get away with lower fluids. Not this time. Dehydration crept in. hard.
 At 35km I was in survival mode, one foot in front of the other, flicking between moments of pain and little short lived waves of “let’s go.” But by 39km I was delirious. I could see the finish line, I hit the 40km mark (where I thought enjoyment might return to finish), and I collapsed.
 I was gone. Scary stuff.
 The last few hundred metres were a complete blur. All I remember is the crowd, the medics, and about five paramedics suddenly around me. I was vomiting, shaking, confused, in and out of it. I had this overwhelming, indescribable feeling, and honestly, for a moment, I thought I could die.
 My memory went. I couldn’t recall the day, the year, where I lived, or how to spell. I only knew who Jess and the kids were, and that I didn’t want them to see me with wires in me. 
 My temperature had hit 40°C. Blood pressure crashed. Thankfully, the medics and paramedics were incredible, I had a drip running into me within 10 to 15 minutes.
 As I already knew, I’m stubborn. I wanted to run it all. Not walk. Not stop and breathe and In hindsight, I should have. 
 Seems like my mind was just a bit stronger than my body on the day. I never thought I could push myself there in all honesty. 

Am I gutted? Of course, I was only 2km away but I gave it everything I had on that day. Heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration got me. 

I am always reminded here of the quote ‘The man in the arena’ look it up if you need. 
 Will I run 42.2km again? Yes, I feel I need to. 

Would I do things differently, now I’ve run 40km under race conditions? You bet, lessons learnt. Always lessons. Never be scared to not succeed. Be scared to never try in the first place. 
 We go again.
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