OK, ladies, no more excuses (I’m talking to myself here, too). Now that the kids are headed back to school, it’s time to get back to our workouts!

Once school starts, schedules get tighter and there’s more of a routine and flow to the day. Part of that routine should be fitting in your workout time.

I’ve learned over the years that the best approach is to go straight to the gym after dropping off the kids in the morning. If I go home first, I inevitably start doing something else, which leads to another thing, and before I know it, it’s time to head back to school for pick up. If I’m already dressed for the gym when I get into the car, I just head straight there.

I homeschool my daughter now, so I hit the gym early in the morning before we start our day. This way, it’s done and I’m not worrying about when I can exercise. I know that when we put things off, they tend not to get done. Just find whatever works best for your schedule and block out that space of time.

Fall is also a great time of year to try something new. There are so many options to keep your workouts fun and fresh. If you’ve only been doing weight training, try a pilates, yoga or stretching class. If you usually stick to classes, throw some weight training into the mix. If cardio machines are where you spend all your time, switch it up with a spin class.

Crossfit is a challenging total body workout you can also incorporate into your regular routine. Or maybe sign up with a trainer who does group workouts.

Don't feel guilty about taking that one hour a day of "me" time. You will feel so much better physically and mentally, which will help you take on homework and all those afterschool activities with less stress!