Fun Activities for Parental Wellness—Parents Need to Stay Fit Too!

Being a parent is one of the greatest joys we humans can experience. There’s no substitute for bringing a life into the world, nurturing and caring for a child as we watch them grow into smart, beautiful, capable adults in their own right. But of course, parenthood has some serious challenges—not least of which is how hard it can be to find time for yourself.

As any parent can tell you, there’s often just not enough time in the day to do everything you’d like to. Between working, cooking, cleaning, laundry, drop-offs, pick-ups, and everything else, it can be extremely difficult for parents to make time for wellness and fitness. 

In this guide, we’ll cover a few ideas for parents in this situation, offering suggestions to help you stay fit, healthy, and happy even as you deal with the hectic charms of being a parent. Let’s get into it!

Exercise in Quick Bursts

Odds are, there’s little chance of you getting your usual hour-long workout most days as a parent. Instead, rethink your approach to exercise, taking advantage of multiple, smaller moments throughout the day when you have time.

If you find yourself with 20 minutes to spare before it’s time to pick the kids up, hit the yoga mat for some stretching, do a few sets of push-ups, or practice some high-intensity interval training. While it may not feel like you’re putting yourself through the same paces as a longer workout, these small bursts of activity can add up over time.

Find Ways to Stay Active at Work

If you work at a desk, you may have a great opportunity for a little exercise here and there. We suggest keeping a rubber resistance band stashed in your desk drawer. Pull it out during meetings or downtime to help strengthen your upper and lower body. Try overhead tricep presses, hammer curls, or side-to-side shuffles. Even just a few minutes a day will help keep you moving and active—and your body will thank you.

Wake Up (and Go to Bed) a Little Earlier

We know that sleep is a precious commodity for busy parents. But if you can get yourself to bed even 15 minutes earlier, and then wake up about 15 minutes earlier too, you’ve gained a whole 30 minutes of exercise time per day. This habit might be hard to get into at first, but once you’ve set yourself the routine, you’ll begin to look forward to these little moments of you-time.

Carry Your Kids

If your kids are still infants or small toddlers, carrying them around (or wearing them in a special harness) can be a great way to get a little exercise no matter what you’re doing. Make sure you’re deliberately engaging the muscles in your core and legs as you pick them up and put them down, bending from the knees instead of the back. If you can keep up with this as your child gets a little older, it’ll be like doing mini squats every single day!

Stay Hydrated

For something so seemingly simple, drinking enough water can make a huge difference for your overall health. When you’re busy looking after kids, it can feel like a huge effort to do anything for just you—but do yourself a favour and get yourself a water bottle. Take it everywhere you go, and before long, you’ll build healthy hydration habits that will support your body and keep you feeling your best.

Look Into Gyms with Childcare

If possible, get a membership to a gym that offers free or low-cost childcare. This can be a great way for busy parents to squeeze in a quick workout when they need to mind their children, and it’ll probably be a great way for your child to make new friends as well!

Include Kids in Your Workouts

If gyms aren’t an option, you can still get a workout in while keeping an eye on your kids! Our children love to copy us, especially when we’re doing something they see as fun. Include your kids in your home exercise routine—show them how to do the basic moves, and encourage them to do some of them alongside you. This lets you set a great example for your kids, all while giving you the chance to get the exercise you need.

Turn Chores Into Active Games

Sometimes, there’s no time for a home workout. But you can still get some exercise while doing chores around the house, and make it even easier by turning them into fun, active games for your kids! For example, have a friendly competition to see who can pick up 10 toys and put them away the fastest, while you get the natural workout of vacuuming the stairs. This lets you get a little exercise, tires out the kids, and helps you tidy up—all at the same time! How’s that for a win-win-win?

Team Up with Other Parents

If you have other parent friends who share your pain at having no time for a workout, why not join forces? Take turns with other couples—one looks after both sets of kids, and the other gets a chance to hit the gym, go for a run, or run through their stretching routine. Then, trade over so the other parents get a chance to. It takes a village to raise a child, but it just takes a couple of trustworthy friends to raise your heart rate!

Make Exercise a Family Affair

In general, we suggest finding ways to make exercise a fun family activity that your kids will love. Swimming, biking, sports, or simple walks in the park are all great ways for the family to get some exercise, and you’ll be spending quality time with the kids too. 

Fitting Exercise in Your Busy Life

We know that many of these tips are easier said than done for busy parents. If you’re looking for customized tips to help you incorporate regular exercise into your day-to-day, we can get you started.

We encourage you to consider an assessment, that way we can better identify when you're ready to take on the activities you want to incorporate into your life. Follow-ups are also recommended every couple of weeks after this assessment. That way, our team can help you adjust your movement preparation routines and manage any mobility issues that have arisen since starting your new activity, such as post-training stiffness, injuries, etc.

Together, we can help you make decisive strides toward your fitness goals. And with our personalized plans, you’ll be able to schedule wellness into even the most chaotic of schedules.

Contact us today to learn how we can help parents keep up with their fitness goals!

Disclaimer: This BLOG content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The creators of this BLOG are not liable for any actions or decisions taken by individuals based on the information presented herein. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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