A conversation that comes up a lot in the Studio is around finding the time. So many people we speak to are brilliant at looking after everyone else whether that’s ageing parents, children who still need them, a partner, a home, a job. We see it a lot with people who pop in to visit us, that they’ve suddenly realised they don’t make any time for themselves, or simply feel too busy.
We’re not here to add to your long list of things to do. There is no doubt that you already have a full plate, so here are a few thoughts on how to carve out that time for yourself when life feels stretched, and what it looks like when you find a space that does all the thinking for you.
Start smaller than you think you need to
One of the biggest reasons people put off doing something for themselves is that they’re waiting for a proper window of time like a whole morning, a quieter week, a moment when things have settled down a little. But that window rarely comes, and waiting for it means you keep getting pushed to the bottom of your own list.
A small, consistent thing is worth so much more than a big occasional one. One hour a week that’s reliably yours will do more for how you feel than anything sporadic.
Treat it like you’d treat anyone else’s appointment
We’re all brilliant at showing up for other people – we rearrange, we find the time, we make it work. The shift that makes the biggest difference is applying that same energy to the things we’ve carved out for ourselves, because the time you protect for yourself is just as valid as anyone else’s needs, even when it doesn’t always feel that way.
Put it in the diary, tell the people around you it’s happening, make it non-negotiable (even just once a week!)
Find somewhere that takes the thinking off your hands
This is the part that can be easy to overlook, but it makes a big difference. When the thing you choose for yourself still requires you to plan, decide and figure things out, it adds to your mental load rather than relieving it.
The most restorative thing you can do for yourself is find a space where someone else does all of that for you. At Shape It Up Pilates, that’s exactly what we’re here for, and here’s what we take completely off your plate the moment you walk through our door:
You don’t have to decide what to do — no arriving somewhere in a panic that you’ve forgotten anything, or wondering ‘what now?’ You arrive safely, we take it from there.
You don’t have to worry about whether it’s right for your body — our teachers know your history, your injuries and your goals, and every exercise is adapted to what your body needs that day.
You don’t have to keep up — everyone in the room is working at their own pace, with their own modifications, guided by teachers who are watching and adjusting throughout.
You don’t have to figure out what comes next — as you get stronger and more confident, there’s always a natural next step waiting for you without you ever having to seek it out.
You just have to show up — no specific fitness level, no particular experience, no latest kit required. Just you, exactly as you are.
Experience it at Shape It Up
If you’re considering starting Pilates, or if you’ve tried it elsewhere and it didn’t quite feel right, we’d love for you to come and experience the difference for yourself with the New Member Intro Offer