Exercise Tips for Busy Parents

Parents are always busy. Whether you are rushing to drop off the kids at school, helping with homework, or driving them to practice there never seems to be enough time in the day for you to get a workout in. To help you, and your family, stay fit and healthy here are a few ways you can squeeze exercise into your busy routine.

For parents with younger children

• Take advantage of nap time. Put your child in the stroller and go for a jog.
• Adopt a workout buddy. Team up with a fellow parent or coordinate with your spouse. You can swap off child care duties so each of you can have a chance to hit the gym on a regular basis.
• Combine play and exercise. Grab a jump rope, kick the soccer ball around or play together at the playground. This not only helps keep you fit it also teaches your child good exercise habits.

For the whole family

• Adopt a fit hobby. Activities such as hiking, biking, tennis or skiing are things that you can do together as a family. If time or budget is a concern then bundle up after dinner and go for a walk around your neighbourhood.
• Combine errands and exercise. If you live close enough then try walking to the store or to school instead of driving. If you live too far away than try to choose a parking spot far away from the door, letting you squeeze in a little bit more exercise.

For you and your partner

• Make date night fitness night. You could go for a long walk together, play a couple of rounds of tennis or go for a long bike ride. Exercising together is a great way to bond, and gives you both time to de-stress.

For yourself

• Rethink TV and phone time. Instead of sitting and watching your favourite show, jog on the treadmill, cycle on the stationary bike or do some yoga. Love to talk on the phone? Walk around the house and combine talking with stretching.
• Get a personal trainer. A few sessions with a personal trainer might be all you need to get you started. He or she will also be able to offer advice and tips, and help you stay on track to your fitness goals.
• Buy a fitness tracker. Knowing how many steps you are getting can be a great motivator. You should aim for 10,000 steps each day.

For you and your co-workers

• Adopt a lunch time walking buddy. Don’t spend your lunch hour hunched over your desk with your phone. Instead, grab a friend and explore the area around your office. Do you organize a lot of meetings? Suggest walking meetings instead of sitting in the boardroom for meetings that don’t require computers or other equipment.

Most of us don’t have time to spend hours at the gym each day, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have time to exercise. Small changes to our daily routines add up quickly and encourage us and our families to exercise regularly.

DreamBody is Calgary’s premier choice for weight loss and fitness training. For more information contact us today at 403.612.3538 and visit paulanthony.ca.