Putting routines and habits into place is critical to keeping yourself healthy year-round. When you make being healthy – a habit – then you will fall back to these things when life seems to go sideways. Here are a couple of different tips on how to keep yourself and your kids healthy this school year.
It is NOT about a number
Remember that exercise is for you. It is for you to be the best possible version of yourself and able to show up in life the way you want to. People who exercise because they want to see a number on the scale or buy a certain size jean generally do not keep their healthy routines for their entire lifetime. Exercise should make you feel great as well as having great benefits for your longevity.
You cannot do this alone
Even though exercising should be something you do for yourself, you can’t do it alone. In order to make your habit stick, you will need those closest to you on board with the transition and the longevity of the changes you are trying to make. It is unrealistic for you to think you are going to create a new habit of working out when the rest of your family is laying on the couch every evening. Try to make the change a family activity or at least if you have the support of your partner or close friends to keep you accountable.
Diversify
Running might be your thing. You could be someone who likes to throw around heavy weights. Maybe you enjoy a good yoga class. When it comes to exercise, just like everything else in life, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Cardio alone isn’t going to do you the most benefit and weight lifting alone isn’t going to be the most helpful either. You need to find a balance and train in multiple areas. Try to find something that you can enjoy in each of the categories and remember that all of them are helping you to get better at all of them.
Cast your vote
Think of every time you make it to the gym or go for a run or take a class – as a vote you have cast to a healthier you. As long as you have more votes towards health and not away from it, you are headed in the right direction. Don’t get too hard on yourself if this is a new habit you are trying to form and you slip up. Try to make your goal extremely small to begin with and as you gain momentum, grow your goal. As long as you keep on casting your vote to a healthy you, you will be just fine.
With all of these different ideas, its time to go out and get you and your family moving this season. Come up with a plan, modify if necessary, but just keep going. Remember, if you have any questions or need more ideas, you can always call our office or come in to see one of our Exercise Specialists for more information.
-Amber Moyer, Exercise Specialist