The Off-Switch: Why I Started Taekwondo as a Busy Working Mum
- Alima Balgabekova
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
I’m a full-time working professional, a parent, and a 38-year-old woman. And like most people in that position, I’m busy.
Not “a bit busy.” Properly busy.
Work deadlines, school routines, family life, household admin - the usual constant mental juggling act that so many adults will recognise. For a long time, I told myself I didn’t have time for anything else. Especially not something like martial arts.
That felt like something for people with more time, more energy, or a completely different lifestyle. But I was wrong.
The Problem Wasn’t Time - It Was Mental Load
What I didn’t realise at the time was that my issue wasn’t actually a lack of time. It was a lack of mental space.
Even when I wasn’t working, my mind was still “on”:
Thinking about work.
Thinking about home.
Thinking about everything I hadn’t done yet.
I had become used to never fully switching off. People often suggest things like meditation or mindfulness, but for me, sitting still just meant my thoughts got louder.
I didn’t need more stillness. I needed something that would interrupt the noise.
Finding Something That Forces You Into the Present
That’s what led me to Taekwondo. At first, I didn’t expect much from it beyond standard exercise. But very quickly, I noticed something unexpected.
When you are learning a movement, focusing on your balance, or trying to coordinate a kick properly - you simply cannot think about anything else.
There is no mental space left for emails, deadlines, or to-do lists. You are fully in the moment. Not because you are trying to be, but because you have to be.
For me, that was the first time in a long time that my brain actually stopped multitasking.
I’m Not the Only One
Training at our club, I’ve realised this isn’t just my experience. Many of the adults training alongside me are in the exact same situation:
Full-time jobs
Children
Busy homes
Constant responsibilities
But when we step onto the training floor, something shifts. The stress of the day doesn’t disappear, but it gets put aside for a while. We stop thinking about everything else and focus purely on what is right in front of us.
That space is incredibly rare. And honestly, it’s become one of the most valuable parts of my week.
It’s Not About Being the Fittest or the Most Confident
When I started, I had the same worries many adults have:
Am I fit enough?
Am I too old?
Will I be completely out of my depth?
But none of that really matters once you begin. You don’t need to arrive “ready.” You just need to turn up. Everything else develops over time - fitness, confidence, coordination, and strength.
What surprised me most wasn’t the physical change; it was the mental change. I didn’t expect to feel calmer, clearer, or more patient outside of training. But I do.
The “Off-Switch” Effect
The best way I can describe it is this: Taekwondo gives me an off-switch.
Not in the sense of escaping life, but in the sense of stepping away from constant mental noise for an hour or two.
No phone.
No emails.
No multitasking.
Just movement, focus, and breathing. And when I leave training, I feel like I can think again. Properly think. Not just react.
As a working parent, I don’t get a lot of time that is just for me. So when I do, I want it to matter. Taekwondo doesn’t just make me fitter; it makes me feel more like myself again. More present, more patient, and more able to handle the demands of everything else.
That’s why I keep going back. Not because I always feel like training, but because of how I feel afterwards.
If you are a busy adult reading this and thinking, “I don’t have time for something like that,” I understand that feeling completely. I used to say the same thing. But now I see it differently. It’s not about having time. It’s about needing space. And for me, Taekwondo has become that space. A place where my mind finally gets to slow down. Even just for a little while.
Find Your Own "Off-Switch" This Summer
If you are ready to find a bit of mental space away from the noise of a chaotic schedule, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to take that first step.
This July and August, we are running our Summer Access Pass - a low-cost, flexible trial designed specifically for absolute beginners who want to experience training without any heavy commitment.
The Pass: Get 4 full class credits for £20 (just £5 per session).
Total Holiday Flexibility: Valid throughout the summer, meaning you can easily fit your 4 classes around work, family travel, and busy periods. You don't lose credits if you go away.
Zero Pressure: You don't need a uniform, and you don't need to be fit to start. Just turn up in standard sportswear, step into our safe studio at Portsmouth Grammar School (PGS), and leave the outside world at the door.
You don't need to arrive "ready." You just need to decide to begin.
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