Sarah de Klerk: Don’t Overthink It. Just Do It.

Meet Sarah de Klerk, mom to one-year-old Jack, manager at a climate finance consultancy, and proof that consistency doesn't need to look the same in every season of life.

Sarah's been part of the False Bay Fitness family since 2015, back when we were still CrossFit Tokai.

We caught up with her about balancing new motherhood with training, the dad who got her into this in the first place, and why she's stopped being so hard on herself.

A day in the life

A typical day looks like an early wake-up by my personal alarm clock: my one-year-old son, Jack. Fortunately, my husband Jacques is the one who gets up, changes the nappy and brings Jack to me before leaving for work. Jack and I then have playtime and breakfast before the nanny arrives and I start work.

Then it's a full day of work for me. I have an office off our house, so I get to work from home while popping in to see Jack, the best of both worlds. I'm a manager at an economics consultancy, where I work at the intersection of climate finance and economics on a variety of interesting projects.

At the end of the day, Jacques and I alternate going to the gym while the other takes care of Jack, except on Thursdays, when my parents look after him, which means we both get to go.

The turning point

I've always been quite sporty and active, so joining False Bay Fitness, back when it was CrossFit Tokai, was a natural step for me.

Even though I kept training during my gap year in the UK, I still couldn't escape the infamous "Heathrow injection" (if you know, you know). I realised I needed a much more dynamic style of training, and since my dad had already joined CrossFit, he encouraged my brother and me to give it a go. That was all the way back in 2015.

Since then, I moved to town and trained at a few different boxes along the way. But this time, after moving back to the suburbs and a major pregnancy hiatus due to HG (hyperemesis gravidarum), I felt motivated to just get fit again and get my energy levels back.

What keeps her showing up

Knowing that I'll feel better afterwards. My mood is very much affected by exercise, so I need it for myself, and to be a nicer human being for my family, friends and colleagues.

Some mornings, especially with Jack, showing up is hard. I'm in a constant state of exhaustion with a one-year-old, and that's not going away any time soon. I can either not show up and lose myself completely, or take the time. Going to gym is something I do for myself, but it also fills my cup so I can pour into Jack and my family.

Jacques has to come home early from work so I can hand over to him and get to gym, and I know he has a busy day too. Sometimes it feels a bit selfish but I remind myself that I'm also working and trying to balance everything, and forcing myself to go even when I don't feel like it is important. It overflows into my family. I have to take care of myself and lead myself well, so I can be a good example for them too.

Who she's becoming

I think I'm becoming kinder to myself, and a bit more chilled. When I first started out, I felt a lot of pressure to perform well. But since then, I've had breaks along the way; breaking both wrists, and then pregnancy. I'm not as strong or as fit as I once was, but it doesn't faze me anymore. Where I would have been hard on myself, I'm now learning to be grateful, for a body that's healthy and able, and for the opportunity and time to move it and feel better afterwards.

Her people

My dad is the one who got me into this, and he's someone who inspires me with his unwavering consistency.

He used to be one of the busiest people I knew, with so much on his plate, yet he was always able to prioritise fitness, family, church and career. That discipline is something that inspires me.

My husband also always encourages me and will make a plan to look after Jack, or free up things on my plate, so that I can exercise, because he knows how important it is for me, mentally and physically.

The biggest lesson

To just enjoy the process. Life's seasons are so different, and training will look different depending on the season I'm in.

As a teenager and during my gap year, training was more about looking good, but it was also so much fun. There was a whole group of us at False Bay who trained together and hung out together too, because we had so much time.

Then I moved to the city, and that season was really tied up with my early marriage. It was a fun time because I got to train with Jacques every day, and we kept each other accountable. You can't just lie in bed when the other person's getting up to go to the gym.

Motherhood has been extremely different. Jacques and I can't train together most days, except on Thursdays. It's a balancing act, trying to fit our routines around each other, and time is a lot more tight now. There's less time to socialise at the gym than there used to be. I remember going to the 9am class, having coffee with a friend after, then heading to varsity, and sometimes coming back for an evening session too. Motherhood has changed all of that.

I wouldn't say one season stands out more than the others. They were all different and special in their own way, and I look back on them fondly, especially when I had more time. But that's life. My biggest lesson has been not being hard on myself for not training every single day or missing the odd session. I'm in a different season now, and time is a lot more precious. You've just got to enjoy every season and make the most of the one you're in.

What used to be hard

Getting back into a routine post-pregnancy was difficult, given I wasn't able to move much while I was pregnant. The warm-ups used to feel like the workouts! I feel like I'm in a good rhythm now, though.

Where it's made the biggest difference

Training massively affects my mental state, and that affects how I show up for everything, so, in short, everything. I'm able to be more present for my family and friends, and I'm sharper at work as a result.

Advice to her younger self

Don't overthink it. Just do it.

If I'm honest, I wish I'd joined sooner, even back in school, although I probably wouldn't have had the time. I played a lot of hockey and tennis growing up, but I never really built any upper body strength. After a few months of CrossFit, I remember feeling so strong and so much more powerful, and I wish I'd had that in school. I think it would have helped my confidence and my sport.

Boys' schools tend to have gyms and do a lot of strength work as part of their sports training. Girls' schools are becoming more progressive, but they don't always have the same programs. If I have a daughter one day, I'll definitely encourage her to try CrossFit-style training or weightlifting, because I think it's so empowering and makes a massive difference to how you perform.

So I'd say the biggest lesson is to start sooner. It's amazing, and so good for you. I was intimidated at first, but everyone was so welcoming and encouraging. There's really nothing to fear, because at the end of the day, you're only competing against yourself.

What "being healthy" means now

To me, being healthy today means having the energy to prioritise the things in life that actually matter to me.

At twenty, being healthy was definitely more about outward appearance. There's a lot of pressure on how women look, and that's actually one of the reasons I joined CrossFit in the first place. It shifted my focus completely, from what my body looked like to what it could do.

Since becoming a mom, and after giving birth to this little human, I have a lot more gratitude for what my body does rather than how it looks. Health for me now is about being able to exercise, move, nourish my body well, and have the energy to show up for my family through the day. It's also about getting a good score on my Discovery Vitality health check, ha!

I don't always get it right. I'm only human, and there are times I don't feel like I'm at my healthiest. But there's a lot more balance now, and I'm a lot more gracious with myself. I think you become more grateful for your health as you get older. I definitely give it more thought now, because I want to be an active granny one day. In your twenties you can take your health for granted and feel a bit invincible. As you get older and see more of life and how fleeting it is, you start to value it a lot more, and prioritise it.

Just showing up counts

This new phase of my life has felt overwhelming at times, but showing up is the single most important step I can take. At the same time, there are a lot of parents in this boat who still manage to show up, and I've got a newfound respect for parents who still prioritise their training, especially those with more than one child - it is inspiring.

A habit that changed everything

I've always prioritised exercise, so it's less that one habit led to another and more that it ties into having self-control in all areas of life.

If I had to point to one weekly habit, it would be my Thursday gym days with my husband.

It's the one day Jacques and I get to train together, and there's an added layer of accountability because there's no excuse not to go. My parents look after Jack from morning right through until dinner, so we don't even have to cook that night. It's become a really good habit that keeps us accountable, gives us time with each other, and builds a nice rhythm into our week.

Her perfect day

Definitely a morning coffee and some quiet time with God to start my day, a quick gym session, followed by an outdoor activity with my husband and son, probably a picnic at Buitenverwachting or a kid-friendly wine farm. I'd then love to take a solid two-hour nap (dreams are free), and end the day with an intimate dinner with close friends or family. There has to be a fire and good wine.

Something you might not know

I think I'm a pretty open book... but I did break both my wrists during ski season in Colorado while snowboarding, does that count?

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your story with us. If you're juggling a busy season of life and wondering whether there's still room for training, we encourage you to book a class and see how it fits into your week. You might be surprised.