Incorporating Active Living into a Busy Schedule
Active living doesn’t have to mean rushing to soccer practices and dance classes seven times a week. It can be difficult for working parents and busy school children to make commitments to organized activities everyday. It can also get expensive. Below are some tips and suggestions for working active living into busy lives.
- Write it down! Set yourself reminders on fridge, family calendar, in your phone or however you will remember best. Track progress to keep everyone motivated.
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- Not every physical activity needs to be an organized team sport, and you don’t even need equipment. Try going for a walk, practicing yoga, or playing tag
- Even chores around the house can be physical activity. Get the kids involved with raking leaves, shoveling snow, vacuuming and sweeping
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- Take the stairs, walk to the store, park further away, and make effort to add those little things into your schedule. They might not seem like much, but they add up
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- Participate with friends. When you are too busy to drive your child to practice, having a friend on the team they can carpool with makes sure they won’t miss out on being active. Plus, everything is more fun with a friend
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- Commit to being active, and don’t make excuses. You do have time, it might just mean sacrificing half an hour of couch time, or those few minutes you spend playing that game on your phone.
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- Be accountable for yourself, and your children.
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- Do activities that are fun! Choosing things you and your family like is a great way to make you want to be active. Having fun doesn’t feel like a chore, and it becomes a priority
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- Sneak activity into rewards and fun outings. Instead of a movie, take a trip to the zoo, or go to the beach. It’s a special occasion, but they’re also now being active.
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- Set specific times to be active as a family. It’s more fun together, and that way you ensure everyone has a chance to participate. Stick to your schedule!!
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- Remember that there are going to be days that it just doesn’t happen. That’s okay! Just make sure you recommit and return to your active lifestyle the next day.
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(Bjergegaard, 2015), (Gavin, 2014), (Scandiffio, 2015), (United States Department of Agriculture, 2017)
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