Back to School Fitness Tips for the Whole Family
It’s back to school time, which means the unofficial end of summer and the start of new routines, schedules and plans. Even if you don’t have kids that are attending school this summer, the arrival of September often feels like a new start for a lot of people. That makes this time of year the perfect time to review your fitness schedule and maybe come up with a new plan for the fall.
During the summer, a lot of us let our responsibilities slide. That can include regular exercise. That’s okay! Most of us have been guilty of staying on the patio or lounging in the hammock instead of hitting the gym this summer. It happens to the best of us. However, now that September is here, it’s the perfect time to get back in the swing of things.
Here are some back to school fitness tips that will work for just about anyone!
Stick to a Routine
At this time of year, you’re probably getting used to all kinds of new routines and schedules. In order to make sure that you find the time to exercise, you’ll also want to create a schedule for working out. By scheduling a time to workout, you’ll be much more likely to do it!
You Don’t Need Hours
Some people think that they need to spend hours in the gym in order to get an effective workout. This isn’t true! You can keep your body healthy with about 30 minutes of exercise a day. And you don’t need to do all 30 minutes at once either! Two quick 15-minute exercise sessions can certainly be beneficial. Most guidelines recommend 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a day, five days a week. This means 150 minutes of exercise each week. As long as your workouts add up to 150 minutes each week, it doesn’t really matter when you do them!
Involve the Whole Family
Getting the whole family (and even your friends) involved can make exercise more fun and help you stick to your schedule. Consider going for an after-dinner walk with your family each day, or schedule a weekly family soccer match every Saturday morning. This exercise can help you stay in shape while also having fun with your family.
Plan your Meals
This tip isn’t directly about exercise, but it’s certainly related. Planning your meals can be very important, especially during this hectic time of year. Making your own meals at home is much healthier than buying them out as you can avoid the large amounts of salt, sugar and fat (not to mention all of the calories and the large portions) that often come with takeout meals.
Each weekend, whenever you have time, create a quick meal plan for the week. Then use this plan to help you shop for groceries. Packing your own lunches and making your own breakfasts and dinners will leave you feeling happier and healthier, which makes exercising easier.
No Comments