Anne-Marie's story

Balancing caring with exercise

I support both my mum and my brother by helping them manage bills and household administration, making sure things stay organised and up to date. Alongside the practical support, I also provide a listening ear, offering emotional support, reassurance, and someone they can talk things through with. This combination of practical help and emotional presence helps ease some of the pressure they face and allows them to feel supported in day-to-day life.

I tend to plan my weekly exercise around my work schedule and existing commitments, so it fits realistically into my routine. Being flexible and organised helps me stay active.

I enjoy running the most, as it’s easy to fit into my week and incredibly flexible. I can vary the length and pace, choose to run with or without music, and adapt it to how I’m feeling on the day. It’s an activity that works in all weathers and feels both accessible and freeing, which makes it especially enjoyable for me.

Enjoying the benefits and overcoming the challenges

Mentally, just moving my body gives me head-space and helps reduce stress and lifts my mood. There’s a real sense of achievement in taking small amounts of time just for me. Physically, it’s given me more energy, which makes everyday tasks feel more manageable. Overall, being active helps me feel more balanced and resilient. It doesn’t fix everything, but it makes tough days feel a little better and gives me the capacity to cope better, both physically and emotionally.

The biggest challenges were finding the time and energy to be active alongside other responsibilities. I overcame this by planning activity into my week in a realistic way, keeping it flexible, and reminding myself that even short or gentle movement counts. Letting go of all-or-nothing thinking helped me stay consistent without adding extra pressure.

Becoming a Carers Active volunteer

I volunteer in the Carers Active Online Facebook Group and help spread the word about how being active can make a real difference, and I try to motivate and inspire carers to give new activities a go. It's great to hear about the new activities some of the carers have tried and makes me want to try new things too.
 
I love encouraging other carers to get active and really appreciate the interaction we have in the Carers Active Facebook Group. It's great to hear how people are getting on and fitting exercise into their week and how the group encourage each other to try new activities.

Moving in a way that works for you
 
My advice to others would be to start small and realistic. Short walks, stretching while the kettle boils, or a few minutes of gentle movement at home all count and are a great starting point.

Try to build movement into what you’re already doing - walking instead of driving when possible, moving with the person you care for, or using everyday tasks as chances to stay active.

Find something you enjoy - that might be swimming, dancing in the living room, gardening, or a short online class.