Letting Go of the "All or Nothing" Workout Mentality

all or nothing busy mom life consistency over perfection daily movement flexible fitness grace over guilt mom strength mom workout mindset pilates for moms postpartum fitness realistic wellness short workouts small wins sustainable health workout motivation May 21, 2025

If you’ve ever thought, “Well, I don’t have time for a full workout today, so I’ll just skip it,” you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not failing.

This is what we call the “all or nothing” workout mentality. And while it sounds like discipline, it’s actually one of the biggest things holding moms back from building real, lasting strength.

Because here’s the truth: doing something is always better than doing nothing.

 

“If I Can’t Do It Perfectly, I Won’t Do It at All”

Sound familiar?

We’ve been taught to believe that workouts only count if we:

  • Do the full thing from start to finish
  • Break a sweat
  • Have uninterrupted time
  • Use all the equipment
  • Feel sore afterward

But here’s what real life looks like for most of us:

  • A baby wakes up early from a nap
  • The toddler needs a snack right now
  • You have 8 minutes before your next Zoom call
  • You’re tired, overstimulated, and unsure where to even start

And suddenly, the “ideal” workout isn’t happening. So we tell ourselves it’s not worth doing anything at all.

But that mindset is costing us consistency.

 

What If 10 Minutes Is Enough?

Here’s a radical idea: movement doesn’t have to be extreme to be effective.

You don’t need 60 minutes, a quiet house, or a full Pilates setup to build strength. Sometimes, a 10-minute mat session is exactly what your body needs. Sometimes, it’s a stretch on the living room floor while your toddler climbs on your back. Sometimes, it’s just breathwork and a few roll-downs to recenter yourself between the chaos.

And yes—it still counts. Every rep, every stretch, every mindful breath adds up.

 

Progress is Found in the In-Between Moments

Consistency isn’t built on perfection. It’s built on showing up again and again, even when conditions aren’t ideal.

That’s how:

  • Postpartum cores get stronger
  • Burnt out moms rebuild energy
  • Mindsets shift from guilt to grace
  • Bodies begin to feel like ours again

You don’t need a flawless track record. You need a flexible mindset and the willingness to meet yourself where you are.

 

Here’s What Letting Go Looks Like:

  • You stop keeping score of missed days.
  • You celebrate short workouts, even if they didn’t “feel hard.”
  • You release guilt for not finishing every rep.
  • You listen to your body and honor rest when it calls.
  • You keep going—even when the journey looks different every day.

Because that’s what real wellness looks like as a mom. It’s not all or nothing—it’s all or something.

 

Let’s Redefine What Counts

Inside The Pilates Mom Studio, we’re not chasing perfection. We’re chasing sustainability. We’re building strength in short bursts. We’re stacking small habits into big changes. We’re showing up when it’s messy, not just when it’s polished.

So if all you have today is 5 minutes, take it. If you had to stop halfway through to change a diaper, you still showed up. If your toddler used you as a jungle gym while you were trying to hold a plank, you’re doing it right.

Let go of “all or nothing.”
Let in grace, flexibility, and real-life progress.

You’ve got this, mama.

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