Building healthy habits as a family can be rewarding, but also incredibly difficult. Among pressures to eat cleaner and exercise more, it’s important to remember that what may be “healthy” for one person may not work out for another.
Set Family Goals
Set concrete health goals with your family members, keeping individual interests and needs in mind. Dietary and activity needs are going to be different for each person, so make sure these health goals are accommodating to everyone in your family. This way, everyone can start with a solid foundation and vision for success.
Daily Routines And Habits
Changing your entire lifestyle at once can be overwhelming and, in most cases, impossible to keep up. To help avoid injuries or pain and make the path to healthy living a pleasant one, it’s best to start off with small habit changes.
Here are a few fun, easy habits you can start including in your family’s daily routine to get more movement in each day.
- Take a walk after dinner. Exploring your neighborhood on foot can unlock details typically missed in the car. You may also make new friends with nearby families and their pets.
- Go to the park. Sunny afternoons or evenings after work are great opportunities to head outdoors. If your kids are young, you can pass the time at the local playground, enjoying the swings and jungle-gym. You may also choose to incorporate some community service by picking up trash and helping to keep your local parks and nature trails beautiful.
- Turn on some music. Dancing is a great way to combine exercise with play. Let everyone have input on the playlist. You’ll get to introduce your kids to classic favorites, while they turn you on to more modern music. If you have a gaming system, you can also try out fitness games like “Just Dance” to keep things fun and competitive!
Creating Motivation
Your motivation to stay on track will come and go, so look to each other for support! When you keep the activities fun, there’s a greater chance you’ll stick with them. Here a few fitness options you can try with your family to spice things up!
- Take a class. Whether it’s signing up for a weekly martial arts class or joining your local CrossFit box, group workout classes can help your family stay accountable. The professional guidance also means you and your family get the attention and proper instruction necessary to help avoid any fitness-related injuries.
- Bike to lunch. Designate one day a weekend to try biking to a lunch location. Start with a nearby family favorite to ensure your team gets rewarding food after a successful ride. Over time, push the distance further while trying new restaurants. You’ll get to broaden your horizons while getting great health benefits.
- Family game night. If your weekends and evenings are free, try taking family game night to the next level with some outdoor games! To keep things interesting, add some competition to games like hopscotch, jump rope, ultimate frisbee, or basketball.
Staying Engaged
Once your family has adjusted to the new routine, the last step is creating a positive lasting effect by continuing to challenge yourself. As you and your family become more accustomed to an active life, your exercises will need to grow accordingly. Just like you would incrementally increase your weights in the gym, here are some other ways to ward off workout boredom.
- Take a hike. Though there are lots of beginner hikes that stick to mostly flat and groomed trails, there are many more that require better fitness and determination. Pick a track with a beautiful overlook at the top, pack sandwiches, and mix up your exercise routine with some time in nature.
- Join a league. Many communities have league teams during the summer months. If your kids are old enough, make a family and friends team, and compete in weekly games. No leagues in town? Start a neighborhood kickball game for some local fun.
- Swim laps. Whether you go to a local pool or have a lake nearby, swimming is a great way to get a full-body workout and soak up some rays. This provides younger kids the chance to become confident swimmers, making it a family event for any age.
Don’t Let Pain Stop You
Making health and fitness a priority within your family can seem like an overwhelming task at first, but by starting with smaller goals, you can learn to work together to build active habits that last.
However, if existing pain or an injury is slowing you or a loved one down, Airrosti is here to help. We can treat the whole family — getting you all back on your feet and enjoying quality time together. Give us a call at (800) 404-6050 or schedule an appointment online. We offer both in-office and virtual appointments for your convenience.
