At one point in your life you probably thought you were busy—and then you had kids. Motherhood is one of the most challenging, rewarding and (in the understatement of the year) hectic roles you’ll ever fulfill. But it’s also only one part of your life. So how do you take care of the kids, take care of yourself, keep checking things off your to-do list and maintain your sanity?
Call upon your secret weapon. Every superhero has one and yours could be your Fitbit tracker. Below, seven Fitbit features that will keep you healthy, remind you of important events, and help you take a much-needed break.
7 Ways Super Busy Moms Use Their Fitbit Tracker
Set a silent time-out alarm. Have little ones that sometimes need to spend time by themselves reflecting on their recent actions? All Fitbit trackers (with the exception of Fitbit Zip) allow you to set up to eight silent alarms, so you’ll know exactly when to let one your kiddos out of time out. Next-level parenting? Lead a Relax session on your Fitbit Charge 2, or Fitbit Blaze and have your children participate with you while they sit there.
Join a family-focused group. No time to see friends or join a local parenting club? Get tips, tricks, and encouragement from other moms and dads by joining the “Parents” or “New Moms” group in the Fitbit app. Just tap the “Community” icon in the bottom navigation bar and then drag the slider at the top of the app over to “Groups”, scroll down, and tap “Discover More Groups” to find those groups and many more.
Get personalized workout recommendations. For those days when you have a few minutes to work out but no time to plan an actual routine, tap the “Guidance” icon in the Fitbit app (it’s to the left of “Community”). There you’ll find Fitstar Personal Trainer workout recommendations based on your activity history.
For instance, if you ran three miles wearing a Fitbit tracker, Fitstar might suggest a customized session that rests your legs and focuses on abs and arms, or a Freestyle session, like ”Cardio Crunch,” for an alternative cardio option that still supports heart health. You’ll need to have a Fitstar account to see the move-by-move video tutorial; download the Fitstar Personal Trainer app.
Activate on-device notifications. Never miss another important message or appointment. Depending on which Fitbit tracker you own, you can sync your phone and your device so that your tracker alerts you when you when you get a text, phone call, email, calendar reminder, and more.
Turn on Reminders to Move. Working, paying bills, finally sitting down for a much-needed break—regardless of what you’re doing, it can be easy to lose track of time. But too much chair time can be hazardous to your health. Experts recommend engaging in light physical activity, like walking, for at least two minutes each hour. Remember to do this by turning on Reminders to Move. If you have a Fitbit Flex 2, Fitbit Alta, Fitbit Alta HR, Fitbit Charge 2, or Fitbit Blaze, your tracker will vibrate at 10 minutes to every hour if you haven’t taken 250 steps in the last 50 minutes.
Breathe. Just breathe. Despite your best self-care efforts, sometimes the best you can do is just carve out a couple minutes of the day for some deep breathing. De-stress and refocus with Relax on Fitbit Blaze and Fitbit Charge 2. The on-device app will guide you through a two- or five-minute deep-breathing session, customized to your current heart rate.
Create a sleep schedule. You probably know when your kids are overtired (hello, tantrums), but sleep deprivation can be detrimental to an adult’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being as well. Stay sharp day to day by sticking to a sleep schedule. From the dashboard of your Fitbit app, tap the sleep tile and then the gear icon at the top right. From there you can set a sleep goal (7 to 9 hours is recommended for adults), as well as target sleep and wake times. Be sure to turn on bedtime reminders—at least 30 minutes in advance is ideal—and your app, device, or both will alert you when it’s time to start winding down.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.
Danielle Kosecki
Senior health and fitness editor Danielle Kosecki is an award-winning journalist who has covered health and fitness for more than 10 years. She’s written for Glamour, More, Prevention, and Bicycling magazines, among others, and is the editor of The Bicycling Big Book of Training. A New York native, Danielle now lives in the Bay Area where she doesn’t miss winter at all.
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