Just like meals, exercise doesn’t often happen without a plan. We asked our SLOCA community to share with us some of the tips and tricks they rely on to help them fit fitness into their daily lives.
And if you missed our Helpful Hacks: Meals, check it out HERE!
How do you fit fitness into your life? What habits or hacks do you have that help you keep your routines and/or motivation?
- Susan: Nike, “just do it!”
- Stephanie: Early morning is the only thing that works for fitness for me. I just have to make sure I am not staying up so late working that I cannot get up in the morning!
- Jenny: Still haven’t figured this one out!
- Cheryl: Alarms, alarms, alarms!! I think getting exercise out of the way by doing them first thing in the morning has been my lifesaver. By the end of the day, I am pretty exhausted and the thought of sweating is absolutely atrocious. 😉
- Sarah: Just as I meal plan, I also plan out my workouts for the week ahead and write them down in my planner. On home days I try to be diligent about doing my workout at 6 am.
- Janvi: We compete on several things to promote a fit and healthy lifestyle….. like follows early to bed, early to rise …… who has minimum screentime record on their phones ….who does more push-ups and who reads more books in a month.
- Robin: Nightly family walks as often as possible help keep people moving. Each child is required to be involved in a sport or active activity.
- Sarah: I am part of a virtual fitness group and it really helps with accountability. It’s a priority for me and not something I will miss.
- Catherine: On home days I work out in the morning and let the kids sleep in a bit.
- Tessa: Little things count too. Walking from the end of the parking lot, going to the beach to play, playing ball with the dog. Little things add up!
- Sharon: I’m big on checking boxes off my to-do list, so when I write up the next day’s schedule on my to-do board I always include what my plan is for exercise that day. And if it doesn’t happen in the morning, chances are it’s not happening. And being able to check off a box from my list first thing is super motivating. Also, laying out the workout attire I will need the night before is one less step to hinder me in the morning.
How do you encourage/support your family’s health & fitness?
- Jenny: We take walks together and often times will practice Yoga together.
- Cheryl: Model, model, model!! And of course, building it into their daily schedule or signing them up for an active sport is helpful.
- Janvi: We follow yoga, like daily SURYA NAMASKARAR….even our 6-year kid can do 5 surya namaskar in one go.
- Robin: We try to talk about the importance of good nutrition and fitness. The positive effects of eating healthy are a part of our conversation. Kids are well aware of terms like healthy balanced diet, anti-inflammatory foods, etc. Both kids have had experiences where eating a healthy, balanced, anti-inflammatory diet has had a visible positive effect on their lives.
- Sarah: I’ve never had to encourage them to be active. They are always on the go.
- Catherine: Letting everyone pick what way they like to move their body (hiking, dance classes, etc).
- Tessa: Dogs. Emotional and physical health are both benefited from our 4 legged furry friends. Get out and play, run, chase, then hugs and loves. Well-rounded happiness.
- Sharon: This year my husband has challenged our kids to do push-ups every day. It has been fun to watch them get better at them and gain confidence. Being active as a family helps us all to be better stewards of our bodies.
Living on the Central Coast, we are pretty lucky that we can do a lot of outdoor activities to keep ourselves healthy. What will you get out and do today?
