Parenting can be one of the toughest jobs out there; your needs often take second place to those of your children. Exercise and parenting seem to go together like oil and water; many parents find it almost impossible to fit regular physical activity into their schedule; but here are three easy tips that should help incorporate physical activity into daily life without disrupting any existing routines.
Prioritise! While parents will often prioritise their children first when it comes to scheduling activities throughout the week; such as play dates, dentist appointments, football practice and extracurricular activities etc – it is equally as important that YOU prioritize YOUR health! Physical Activity Guidelines stipulate at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each week such as cycling or brisk walking, along with strength exercises on at least two or more days per week that target all major muscles. However, more of us are falling short of meeting this minimum requirement and consequently are seeing pounds add up quickly. By scheduling small manageable workouts into your calendar on a daily basis (even 30 minutes if possible during nap times!), you can keep on top of your health. Doing regular exercise has many long-term advantages to improve your daily life. According to the NHS, exercising on a regular basis has been shown to reduce risks such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer by up to 50% and early death risk by 30%. Working with a personal trainer at home is highly effective as they will ensure you attend every session and hold you accountable to ensure they attend all scheduled meetings.
2) Step Outside! – It can be easy to get bogged down indoors by laundry piles and the never-ending mess, but take yourself and the children outside as often as possible for something fun like biking, playing games in the garden, going on walks or dancing in the rain – getting outside makes all the difference in mental and physical wellbeing! Fresh air really can do wonders! Clean air will do more than cleanse your lungs; it’s also great for improving your mood! When more oxygen enters the system, serotonin (a feel-good hormone) levels rise, creating feelings of happiness and well-being allowing you to feel revitalized and revitalized. Becoming outside is great for both you and your children, with the latter benefiting tremendously from outdoor playtime. When they explore their environment through play outside, it allows them to develop muscle strength, motor skills, coordination, confidence and build their sense of independence.
Turn Chores Into Workouts – Turn your chores into workouts to increase physical activity without much extra effort! For instance, turn gardening into a game to see who can amass the largest pile of leaves. Families may spend much of their time together watching television; however, being out in nature and supporting one another greatly enhances that quality time spent together. Studies have proven the efficacy of gardening as an exercise routine; therefore, gardening can help to prevent osteoporosis, improve your mood, and make you more active. When planting vegetables with kids, gardening may even encourage healthier produce consumption – creating an all-round win situation! Starting DIY projects together or turning household tasks into games are other great ways of getting everyone more active, as is turning TV ads into fitness breaks – Princess Plie Squats or Bob the Builder Muscle Builder, for instance – can really create an enjoyable health boosting routine! By getting everyone involved, health will soon become part of lifelong habits!
