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- September 6, 2020
HOW TO STAY ACTIVE ONCE THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL AND YOUR SCHEDULE IS MORE HECTIC THAN EVER
How To Stay Active Once The Kids Are Back In School And Your Schedule Is More Hectic Than Ever
So the kids are back in school. Now not only do you have to manage your own schedule, but you have to make sure your children don’t miss the bus, plan lunches, prepare to pick them up after school, or plan after school care and activities. There’s homework, sports, school meetings, fundraisers – the list goes on and on. And I won’t even start on the extra time, attention, and planning that 2020 is going to require. Do you feel stressed out yet? I promise that wasn’t my intention.
The reason I am bringing up this hectic and possibly stressful transition back to school is that this is when we often forget to look after ourselves. As parents, grandparents, or caregivers of any kind, you need to look after yourselves in order to stay focused and keep your energy levels high. In the following list, I want to offer a few suggestions to help you stay active – which has been shown to boost mood, increase energy levels, and reduce stress!
I know many parents are wondering how they are going to make it all work, let alone think about looking after themselves. It can definitely be challenging, to say the least. Still, take a look at these suggestions and try to keep an open mind. You may find one or two possibilities that will work for your particular situation and schedule.
Here are a few tips to help you stay active, even with a hectic schedule:
1 - WAKE UP EARLIER (INSERT EYE ROLL HERE)
While this may seem like a joke suggestion, for some of you this one may be the simplest solution to an otherwise unsolvable problem. If your morning typically begins at 6 am, starting your day at 5 am and adjusting your bedtime a bit earlier can be very effective. Even though you might not think of yourself as a morning person, it often takes as little as two weeks to make this new routine a habit. Now you have an extra hour of quiet time to get in a quick run on the treadmill, do an exercise video, or join an early morning fitness group (there are TONS of great live online options for this now). Even 15-20 minutes of light exercise can make a huge difference.
2 - MAKE ACTIVITY PART OF FAMILY TIME
Sometimes the only way to make sure you get in some exercise or activity is to get everyone else involved. A few activities that come to mind are: family walks or hikes, playing a back yard game of soccer, or going biking on the trails together. There are many great options to keep moving and not feel like you are missing out on time with your family in the evening.
3 - JOIN A TEAM OR CLUB
Many of us need a bit more structure or accountability to stay motivated and keep active when life gets hectic. This is when joining a team, league, or club can be really helpful. Once you sign up and start to practice and play, and those events get added to the calendar, you are more likely to carve out that space and not fill in your game times with other commitments.
4 - MAKE ACTIVITY PART OF YOUR WORKDAY
Again, this won’t work for everyone’s schedule, but if you have a long enough lunch break, try to get outside for a walk or do some stairs in your building to get your heart rate up during the day. Try to schedule some walking meetings so you’re on the move and still getting things done. Getting active can be a great way to increase your mental alertness and boost creativity. Who knows, that walking meeting might just be the catalyst for your next great idea!
5 - START OR JOIN AN OFFICE CHALLENGE
Offices and businesses of all sizes often hold health or fitness challenges from time to time to help encourage and support team and individual health goals. While I’m not a fan of racing to lose as much weight as you can in 90 days, I am a fan of tracking healthy habits like daily walks or tracking your steps. You want to encourage activities and habits that you can maintain over the long term.
6 - EVENING WORKOUTS INSTEAD OF TV
Instead of picking out a new show to watch in the evening, maybe try picking out a workout video that you can do in 30 minutes. If you prefer to do your own exercises, you can even watch your show AND get in that workout – win-win!
7 - JOINING THE GYM
I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention this tried and true option. Just like the team or club option, your local gym can help you stay on track by feeling more accountable once you have signed up. The routine of going to the gym can also become a part of your schedule that is non-negotiable and just becomes part of the calendar that doesn’t get crossed out for other activities. The gym also has a variety of machines and programs that can keep you motivated. There’s no reason to get bored with one routine when you have all the options of a gym available to keep it fresh!
I understand that not everything here will work for everyone and this is not an exhaustive list, by any means. There are many many other options available to keep you active and healthy, even when your schedule gets hectic. Try to keep an open mind and look for opportunities to make activity a part of your day. Use this list as a starting point and find what works best for you.
The important takeaway here is that you need to make getting active a priority because you are busy. Don’t let the busy schedule be the reason you can’t get moving. Remember, staying active and healthy will help to boost your energy, reduce stress, and clear your head so you are more prepared to handle all the daily tasks that life throws your way.
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