Mum, give yourself some time.
All mothers are wonderful, silent heroes. We need to remember this and, despite the multitude of responsibilities, be able to thank ourselves for what we do every day, without a break – says Natalia, business partner service specialist and mother of boys aged 3 and 5, who – as she admits – finds it hard to keep up despite being in quite good shape. On the occasion of Mother’s Day, female employees of Benefit Systems, the creator of the MultiSport Programme, talk about exercise, which, instead of being a duty, is time for yourself, rest and insurance for the future.
First a quick glance at a watch. Professional work usually takes eight hours a day. According to the Central Statistical Office “Population time budget” survey, after work women spend an average of four hours and twenty eight minutes a day on household chores and care activities. This includes caring for children under 17, which takes women an average of two hours and forty four minutes a day. MultiSport data shows that lack of time is the most common reason for not engaging in physical activity among Poles. Women (27%) more often than men (7%) point out that childcare takes up their time. They are also much more likely to say they don’t have time for physical activity due to household chores (25%) than men (9%). However, when exercise becomes a part of their lives, the issue of time begins to lose its importance, giving way to motivation: 62% of physically active women admit that they seek out opportunities to exercise, and more than half find internal motivation to maintain a routine.
Offline for the world, online for yourself
The most difficult thing is building good habits. – I work full-time. After work I run to pick up the kids from preschool. When we come home, there are tons of tasks to do: I have to take them to a football match, swimming pool or judo practice. When evening finally comes, I dream of lying on the couch and doing nothing – confesses Aleksandra, business analyst and mother of 7-year-old twins. She quickly adds: – But instead of a couch, I choose a mat, and instead of a remote control, a kettlebell. I find time to go to the club, where I train under the supervision of coaches. It’s not just my fight for myself, for recovery, for taking care of my spine, for a good mental health. This is the time I can dedicate to myself. It gives me energy and clears my head – she emphasises. – I exercise because it’s time for me. I can catch my breath and regain my balance. This is my zone where I don’t hear “Mum! Where is...?” all the time. This is the time when I am offline to the whole world and online to myself. Besides, the endorphins released after exercise do wonders for your mood and patience (which you can never have too much of with children) – reveals Agnieszka, purchasing specialist and mother of an 8-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter.
Mum on a scooter
According to the MultiSport Index 2025 report, 92% of women perceive practising sport as the desire to maintain balance and break away from everyday problems. Polish women also appreciate its impact on their psychophysical health.
Natalia, business partner service specialist and mother of boys aged 3 and 5, says: – For me, sport is the best and only possible way to focus my attention and devote a full hour to myself without any distractions. Exercise, despite the sometimes extreme physical fatigue, gives me enormous mental support, allows me to regulate my emotional head, shed the often-tormenting feeling of guilt, and forget about the world, even if only for a moment.
Among the motivations of mothers, there is also a sense of responsibility – for the family and the future. Women are more likely than men to agree that regular physical activity helps to ensure a better quality of life. Now and in the years to come.
– I lost my father very early and I know how difficult the experience of parental health can be. That’s why I want to show my daughter that it’s worth taking care of yourself so that one day she will look at me with a smile when I ride a bike, swim or continue to be active, and not worry about my health. For me, physical activity today is not just about exercise. It’s an investment in health, peace of mind, and the future – mine and my daughter’s – says Karolina, IT manager, mother of a 7-year-old.
– I exercise because I want to take care of myself. For me and my loved ones. These 60–90 minutes a day are not only exercise that improves my fitness and body shape, but also time just for me. It helps not only the body, but also the mind. Because a happy mum means a happy child – says Agnieszka, product development manager, mother of a 2-year-old.
My older daughter loves to ask me difficult questions right after I get home from the gym. She says: “You’re tired, but smiling, so I ask”. This is what turns me on – says Monika, customer relations manager, mother of daughters aged 2 and 8.
Joanna, purchasing specialist, mother of daughters aged 2 and 6, states briefly: – I exercise because I want to keep up with my daughters on their bikes and scooters and set a good example for them.
Helpful card
In addition to finding time and motivation, access to physical activity and broadly understood support – including from the employer – are also important. In the MultiSport Index survey, women were more likely than men to point to this as a factor that could influence their decision to exercise.
– Supporting physical activity in the workplace is both a matter of the tools offered and an organisational culture that creates opportunities, encourages, and lets people know it’s worth it – emphasises Patrycja Peterson-Różycka, Vice President responsible for HR at Benefit Systems. – To give employees as much space as possible for this purpose, we work shorter hours on Fridays and run a programme of additional days of seniority leave. In the office, we regularly organise sports classes (yoga, Pilates and boxing), run sports sections and co-finance participation in competitions. Access to the MultiSport Programme for employees and their loved ones helps with daily exercise – emphasises Patrycja Peterson-Różycka.
The effectiveness of the MultiSport Programme is confirmed by data. The rate of physical activity undertaken once a week among card holders is 84%, compared to 48% for all respondents (MultiSport Index 2025 report).
Broad access to sports infrastructure available under the programme includes the largest database of the company’s own fitness clubs. When exercising in them, it is worth using the support of a trainer, for whom the most important thing is simply to help. This is how Aleksandra talks about it: – And to make things worse, I lost motivation many times and, seeing no results, wanted to give up on it all. But then I had trainers by my side who gave me the stimulus to act, set a new goal – you will stand on your head, pull 100 kg in a glute bridge and do pull-ups on the bar. Every day, when I see myself in the mirror, I thank myself for this strength and motivation and for the wise people I have met. It can be done. It won’t be an easy path, but the satisfaction with the results is enormous.
Barbara Jastrzębska
Benefit Systems has been a leader in the Polish non-financial benefits market for over 20 years and one of the most important players in the fitness industry in the region. For years, the company has been setting market development directions, creating modern solutions that support employee wellbeing and promote an active lifestyle. Benefit Systems’ flagship product is the MultiSport Programme – the most recognizable and most frequently chosen sports programme in Poland, providing access to thousands of sports and recreational facilities. The company’s strong portfolio is complemented by the MyBenefit cafeteria platform and the comprehensive Multi.Life wellbeing programme, creating a unique ecosystem of benefits for companies that care about their employees. Benefit Systems is also dynamically expanding its presence abroad. The company’s sports offer is available in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Turkey, which strengthens its position as one of the key providers of wellbeing services in Central and Eastern Europe. The group is also a major operator of fitness clubs in six markets, and in Poland it is responsible for well-known networks, including Fabryka Formy, FitFabric, Fitness Academy, My Fitness Place and Zdrofit. Benefit Systems’ mission is to inspire physical activity and care for health at every stage of life. That’s why the company runs numerous educational and health-promoting initiatives for children, adults, and seniors, including through the MultiSport Foundation. Its actions confirm that the role of a leader is not only about scale, but also about real social influence. Since 2018, Benefit Systems has been a member of the prestigious B Corp community, which brings together companies that adhere to the highest standards of responsibility and social involvement in their business. More information at benefitsystems.pl/en and biuroprasowe.benefitsystems.pl/releases/English.
