It is hard enough to do the school runs, prep for the next day, go to work, manage shopping trips, feed the dog, feed the family, complete the laundry, fix the car… the list can feel like it is endless. Now that we are in lockdown, home-schooling adds to the mix. The endless “mum…dad….I don’t know what to do…I’m bored….this hurts…I’m thirsty…”…you sure can’t wait to escape for some exercise.
But wait one second, shouldn’t we be thankful that we have our little ones close to us and safe. We have to see this as an opportunity to help, motivate and ultimately inspire the next generation to stay fit and healthy, and teach them the importance of doing so.
Here are a few sneaky workout tips will inspire you to get sweaty no matter what it takes.
Play Doubles
Find ways to include your children in your workout, and it will increase the odds of getting it done plus, as they grow up, it's just as vital to get them moving too. You can start very early to lead by example.
Have a Plan A, B, and C
Life with kids is unpredictable, give yourself options. If you miss your class, be up for trying something new. If you can't make it out the door, have a HIIT routine memorized so you can break a sweat in 20 minutes flat while have a snack. If all else fails, do the 100-burpee challenge. Love them or hate them, burpees are calorie-torching total-body exercise, especially 100 of them!
Know Your Goal
Set how many workouts a week you're aiming for. Create a circuit with 5 moves or get the kids to design a circuit. But be warned leap frogging or crawling through hoops isn’t always easy as we get older!
Cue Your Go-To Videos
We can't exercise at the gym at the moment. So look at your options. If you can’t attend a live online session, on-demand workouts that can be done in the living room can save you time. Start with a 20-minute target, and if the kids are happy and the baby is sleeping, go for an hour. As tempting as it is to finish laundry or do dishes, prioritize yourself, because I know everyone will benefit from you being a healthy parent. Also, taking walks around the neighbourhood helps the kids get the wiggles out and gets your blood pumping, especially racing the big kids up the hills.
Pen It In
Share a family calendar and use it to schedule your workouts. Make sure everyone is set up whilst one workout so there will be no interruptions. It doesn’t have to be a full on workout, it can be a long country walk with the family or a cycle ride.
Mix It Up
Research different types of exercises. Don’t stick to the same routine. Cardio, strength and family exercise are a good mix. Don’t be afraid to pick up some weights or go for that first run.
Fitness is fun when you make it fun!
Be thankful for those little beings. Take a leaf out of their book. Have fun!