It’s Back To School Time But Don’t Forget About Your Fitness Goals
The end of summer and beginning of another school year can be a busy, stressful time for parents. Our to-do lists fill up rapidly and it seems that there are not enough hours in the day to complete all that is needed to prepare. It is important to keep our priorities in order without completely forgetting about our fitness goals. By following these simple tips, you can get your kids ready for the new year while also staying on track.
Time Block – Similar to meal prepping, try taking some time to schedule out your week in advance. The more detailed you can be with every hour of the day will help you set aside time for exercise. If you let one chore or task just roll into the next and so on, it is very easy to lose track of time and miss opportunities to get your workout in. As you schedule each thing that needs to be done, the day seems less daunting and you recognize that there is enough time to maintain your routine and keep getting fit.
Work as a Team – As a family it is vital to work as a team. One person doing all the work while the others do not chip in to help will put strain and stress on the family, hindering the chance for success. If significant others enjoy exercising together, then it is important to prepare your children for going back to school together as well. This prevents one parent from feeling overloaded or overworked. If you and your partner are on different routines, try mapping out a plan where one half of the partnership takes care of certain task while the other gets their exercise in. This can be repeated to allow the other partner to workout as well. For single parents, work together with your child and anyone else who can lend support to you by finding opportunities that can allow you ample time for your routine.
Get Your Kids Involved – Back to school shopping can be a workout in itself. Use this time to not only rack up steps on your fitness trackers but involve and/or educate your child about fitness. This could be a great time to find a new sporty/fitness outfit for your child to enjoy going back to school in that may help get them more active. This can also be a great time of the year to invest in new shoes for your child. Maybe while shoe shopping for them, a new pair of running shoes will help motivate you to push your fitness plan up a notch.
Remember to enjoy these last few weeks with your children before they go back to the grind of the school year and continue to take time for everyone to be together. Trips to the mall for clothes and picking up school supplies does not have to mean the end of your exercise routine. If everyone commits to helping each other, you can stay on course and continue to become the best you possible!
