Healthy living should be a priority in every household, but with hectic work schedules and busy social lives, it can be difficult to fit everything in. Luckily, you can build healthy habits with your family and implement an active lifestyle with a few small steps. Not only will incorporating exercise into your regular routine set your kids up for a healthy future, but it can also bring you together as a family.
Activity-Based Fun Days Out
A great way to fit exercise into the family schedule is to incorporate it with a fun, family day out. Family activities can include hiking, mountain climbing, and even wild swimming. Not only will you get fit while having fun, you will also be creating long-lasting memories that your kids will look back on forever. For families who enjoy spending time in nature, days out can be extended to camping trips. If getting to grips with the great outdoors doesn’t appeal to you, there are plenty of other options. Plan a walk in the park with a picnic lunch, splash around in a water park or explore new places on the back of your bikes. Fitting in fitness in this way will normalize exercise for children at a young age so that it becomes a way of life as they get older.
Take a Class Together
Learning something new together is great for strengthening family bonds, and there are so many fitness classes to choose from. Join a fun martial arts class in your local area and pick up practical self-defense techniques, or take your fitness to the living room with a guided, online exercise video. There are many adult fitness videos that can be modified for kids, and there are also some guided classes that are geared towards the whole family. Yoga is a low-impact exercise that is fantastic for overall health and fitness. It is accessible for all abilities and can be practiced at home with an online video or in a physical class. When practicing at home, all you need is some space, comfortable clothing, and yoga mats. Whatever fitness class you choose, just make sure the whole family enjoys taking part and that everyone is able to physically get involved.
Get Up and Volunteer
If your weekends are typically spent playing video games or watching TV, volunteering your time can benefit both your family and others. Volunteering will get you out of the house, and spending time on a worthy cause will give your family a feel-good vibe. If you want to give back to the community, then do your research on local volunteering opportunities in your neighborhood. Activities can vary from redecorating the local community center to sorting through donations at a charity shop. Besides scheduled volunteer work, you can also get fit for a cause by participating in an exercise-based fundraiser. Social media is full of sponsored fitness events; alternatively, apps like Charity Miles enable you to make a difference by combining physical activity with charity work.