{"id":13349,"date":"2025-02-20T04:45:03","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T21:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=13349"},"modified":"2025-02-20T04:45:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T21:45:03","slug":"got-parental-burnout-jbybs-carmel-rodriguez-on-striking-perfectly-imperfect-balance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=13349","title":{"rendered":"Got Parental Burnout? JBYB\u2019s Carmel Rodriguez on Striking \u201cPerfectly Imperfect\u201d Balance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Trying to juggle work, family time, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/set-a-clear-attainable-goal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fitness goals<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/beachbody-diet-plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">healthy eating<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/why-is-self-care-important\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">self-care<\/a>, and social events can be overwhelming. So how does <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carmelrodriguezfit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Carmel Rodriguez<\/a> \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/just-bring-your-body\">Just Bring Your Body<\/a> trainer, fitness influencer, model, entrepreneur, and mom of two \u2014 manage to strike the perfect balance?<\/p>\n<p>She doesn\u2019t! And here\u2019s why: Endlessly chasing an unrealistic ideal of \u201cperfect balance\u201d just adds unnecessary stress to your life.<\/p>\n<p>And anything that spikes your stress level \u2014 including the pressure to be perfect \u2014 is \u201cnot really the investment you want to make,\u201d Carmel says. Instead, she embraces being \u201cunbalanced and perfectly imperfect.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So what does that mean to her? \u201c\u2018Perfectly imperfect\u2019 means that on some days, you will have it down,\u201d Carmel says. \u201cYou\u2019ll get your workout in, you\u2019ll have dinner on the table, you\u2019ll hug your kids a thousand times, the house will be clean, and you\u2019ll be able to relax for a second.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd the next day, it\u2019ll all go out the window,\u201d she adds. \u201cAnd that\u2019s something to be happy about \u2014 because it may not be perfect, but that\u2019s what life is about.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Here are her tips for finding your own \u201cperfectly imperfect\u201d sweet spot.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Let Go of Perfection<\/h2>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-164310\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/21142906\/interview-carmel-rodriguez-parent-burnout-600-perfection.jpg\" alt=\"Carmel Rodriguez Leads Class, JBYB Sign | interview-carmel-rodriguez-parent-burnout \" width=\"601\" height=\"338\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve tried to be perfect in all aspects \u2014 and I failed every single time, because there\u2019s no such thing,\u201d Carmel says.<\/p>\n<p>Her advice: Let go of the self-imposed pressure to do <em>all the things<\/em>. \u201cYou want to keep going and going, and that\u2019s okay \u2014 you need to have that drive,\u201d she says. \u201cBut at the same time, you need to understand that we are human beings and we cannot keep going like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re fighters by nature, but we need to just sit back and accept \u2014 that pile of laundry ain\u2019t going nowhere for the next day or two, and we\u2019re going to do takeout tonight,\u201d Carmel adds. \u201cThe mythical \u2018balance\u2019 is that sometimes you have to let go of the things we think we have to hold on to so tightly.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>2. Embrace Where You Are Right Now<\/h2>\n<p>When life is hectic, it\u2019s normal to want to regain a sense of calm ASAP \u2014 or at least maintain the appearance that you\u2019re handling everything with ease.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs parents, we want to look like we have it all together when we head outside that door,\u201d Carmel says. But you may feel less stressed if you stop trying to fight the hectic pace of your life and simply accept that your current reality is not entirely together.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I\u2019m overwhelmed, everything is on top of me, my stress levels are high, I\u2019m on the verge of a panic attack, and I just can\u2019t cope \u2014 I will sit back, and I will breathe, and I will accept my situation,\u201d Carmel says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we find the acceptance in it, a lot of weight will be lifted off our shoulders,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Wake Up a Few Minutes Earlier<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-164309\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/21142856\/interview-carmel-rodriguez-parent-burnout-600-morning.jpg\" alt=\"Woman Stretches in the Early Morning | interview-carmel-rodriguez-parent-burnout\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you have a hard time carving out time for yourself, try setting your alarm a bit earlier.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy best and most proven time management strategy is to\u00a0wake up early,\u201d Carmel says. \u201cGet up as early as you can, and have a little bit of time in the morning for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You can use that time to do a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/breathing-exercises-for-anxiety\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">breathing exercise<\/a>, catch up on household tasks, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/benefits-of-morning-exercise\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get your workout done<\/a> and dusted before the rest of the house wakes up. \u201cWhen that\u2019s done, it\u2019s finished, and the rest of my day can carry on,\u201d Carmel says.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Look for One-Minute Tasks<\/h2>\n<p>It can be hard to get motivated to tackle time-consuming tasks when you know you\u2019re not going to have time to complete them. And that means those tasks just keep piling up.<\/p>\n<p>So instead of taking an all-or-nothing approach, Carmel tackles her to-do list one minute at a time \u2014 literally. \u201cIf you see something around you that you could do in under a minute, get it done,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust do it right away. Get it out of your hair. Even if there\u2019s a counter full of dishes and you can get four or five done, get four or five done, and then you can walk away. And you have little accomplishments throughout the day.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>5. Stay Active Together<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-164312\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/21142922\/interview-carmel-rodriguez-parent-burnout-600-together.jpg\" alt=\"Carmel Rodriguez Side Crunches | interview-carmel-rodriguez-parent-burnout\" width=\"601\" height=\"338\"\/><\/p>\n<p>There may be days when you really can\u2019t carve out 30 minutes for a full workout. But you can still get movement into your day by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/how-to-get-kids-fit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">making your family time active<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When Carmel\u2019s kids were younger, she says, she would build obstacle courses\u00a0in the yard using their toys. Or she would push both kids in the stroller, using the hill near her son\u2019s preschool for an extra challenge.<\/p>\n<p>Now that their kids are older and both involved in competitive sports, Carmel and her husband turn practices and games into active family time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy husband and I try to attend every single game with the kids,\u201d she says. In between games, they find ways to train together \u2014 like running soccer drills with their daughter. \u201cMy husband would coach us, and we\u2019d do the drills together and partner up,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<h2>6. Nix the \u201cParent Guilt\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s normal to feel like you should devote every spare minute to family bonding time. But taking time out of your day to do a workout or cook a healthy meal benefits the whole family.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I\u2019m not functioning very well \u2014 my anxiety\u2019s high, I\u2019m overwhelmed, I\u2019m overworked, unsatisfied, unhappy, angry \u2014 my entire family is going to feel that,\u201d Carmel says.<\/p>\n<p>Working out gives her a chance to recharge and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/how-does-exercise-reduce-stress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">relieve stress<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s my investment in my family \u2014 taking care of myself for them,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd not only that\u2026I paint a picture for my kids. They\u2019re going to see that they need to make time for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>7. Minimize Obstacles<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-164308\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/21142847\/interview-carmel-rodriguez-parent-burnout-600-gear.jpg\" alt=\"Fitness Equipment Laid Out | interview-carmel-rodriguez-parent-burnout\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn a logistics level, you have to have your stuff carved out,\u201d Carmel says. \u201cYou have to eliminate those excuses because you\u2019re going to have a lot of them. And you\u2019re often tired and overwhelmed and overrun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/morning-workout-hacks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">favorite hacks<\/a>: Lay your workout clothes and sneakers next to your bed to make morning workouts distraction-proof.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would pick that up, and my water bottle, and I would leave the house,\u201d Carmel says. \u201cIt would already be planned before I\u2019d have a chance to turn left or right to do anything else. It was so systematic, because I knew there was so much else I could get distracted by.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>8. Find a Big-Picture Motivation<\/h2>\n<p>After her second child was born, Carmel had a recurring nightmare that her kids were in danger and she wasn\u2019t able to save both. That inspired her to get strong enough to switch into superhero mode if needed.<\/p>\n<p>And more recently, Carmel is motivated to stay strong so she can care for her mother, who\u2019s been dealing with health issues. \u201cThese are things I train for now \u2014 to be so strong so that I don\u2019t have any issues being able to lift her up and carry her and hold her if I need to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Of course, if you\u2019re motivated by wanting to change the way you look, that\u2019s not a bad thing. \u201cI love looking good in a pair of jeans, I love having chiseled arms and abs, and I\u2019m all for that, trust me,\u201d Carmel says. \u201cSome days, that\u2019s my motivation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut if it\u2019s your only thing, I guarantee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/are-you-sabotaging-your-workouts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">it\u2019s not going to last<\/a>,\u201d she adds. So make sure you have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/intrinsic-motivation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a more meaningful \u201cwhy\u201d<\/a> that can carry you through your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/how-to-motivate-yourself-to-work-out\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">low-motivation days<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you have a real intention and overall picture\u2026it\u2019ll always be there,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd it\u2019ll get you through those moments where you\u2019re like, \u2018I don\u2019t care what I look like today \u2014 but I care about being able to be there for my mom tomorrow.\u2019 And that\u2019ll be the real drive.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>9. Master the Mini-Workout<\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CP0tvIxgaJu\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>If you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/job-1-20-minute-workout-at-home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">only have a few minutes to work out<\/a>, Carmel suggests picking three or four exercises you already know and love, and putting them on repeat until you run out of time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKeep them as full-body as possible, and execute them back-to-back,\u201d she says. \u201cNo matter who you are, you will get an amazing workout.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of her favorite moves: the mini-cartwheels\u00a0you\u2019ll see in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/just-bring-your-body\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Just Bring Your Body<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s playful, it\u2019s fun, and you\u2019re doing a move that is challenging, but it\u2019s doable once you get the movements down,\u201d she says. \u201cYou build your upper body strength, you get <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/what-is-cardio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cardio<\/a> out of it, and when you start to nail it, you look badass \u2014 which is all-around awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>10. Take a Holistic Approach<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/overtraining-symptoms-insomnia-headache\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Overtraining<\/a> or obsessing over every calorie can cause serious stress. So when it comes to helping her kids build healthy habits, Carmel takes a more holistic approach.<\/p>\n<p>For example, instead of creating strict rules about what they should or shouldn\u2019t eat, she focuses on building <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/mindful-eating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mindful eating habits<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re eating casually, we\u2019re sitting down, we\u2019re taking the time to eat, and we\u2019re not overeating,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019re enjoying it, and we have the energy now \u2014 with the food we\u2019ve eaten \u2014 to go and do what we want to do throughout the day.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>11. Cut Yourself Some Slack<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-164311\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/21142914\/interview-carmel-rodriguez-parent-burnout-600-slack.jpg\" alt=\"Carmel Rodriguez Points at Student | interview-carmel-rodriguez-parent-burnout\" width=\"599\" height=\"337\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSchedule in movement\u00a0[at least] three days a week. It\u2019s as important as your morning coffee or smoothie,\u201d Carmel says. \u201cBut give it time to make it a lifestyle and routine. Trying to achieve your fitness goals overnight, while trying to juggle dependents and life, will only overwhelm you and cause unneeded stress \u2014 and failure of execution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBe committed, but do it with love and intention as an investment in yourself and your family,\u201d she adds. \u201cThis is the mindset that someone would need to make it stick.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/interview-carmel-rodriguez-parental-burnout\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trying to juggle work, family time, fitness goals, healthy eating, self-care, and social events can be overwhelming. So how does Carmel Rodriguez \u2014 Just Bring Your Body trainer, fitness influencer, model, entrepreneur, and mom of two \u2014 manage to strike the perfect balance? She doesn\u2019t! And here\u2019s why: Endlessly chasing an unrealistic ideal of \u201cperfect &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fitness"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13349\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}