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When you work from home, home school your children or both, there’s often this view that you have plenty of time to work on your fitness. You can pop to the gym any time you want! But the reality is that just because you don’t have to ‘go out’ to work, this doesn’t mean you have all the time in the world.
However, you can still make time for a fitness regime and the key to it is having a schedule that incorporates those little windows of time to do whatever you have chosen as your fitness approach. Not only that, but there are lots of fitness activities that you can do with the children as part of their curriculum. So, here are some tips on creating a fitness plan for this new year (or any other time of the year!)
Have a regular spot for outdoor activities
It is definitely in the children’s interest to get outdoors, have fresh air and exercise and there’s no reason this can’t be part of their regular schooling. One easy way to do this is to create a regular spot for outdoor activities or some kind of exercise if the weather works against you.
For example, you could designate a two-hour block once a week or even a couple of times. Perhaps it works better to have three one hour afternoon slots, just after lunch when we all feel a bit sluggish and sleepy. Whatever it is, plan it like other schooling slots and know what you want to do, where you want to go and what the purpose of the time is.
Give yourself some time
As well as setting up a time to do outdoor activities and get exercise with the kids, it is also important to have some time for yourself. This might be something you do once your partner comes home or a time slot when you have someone look after the kids for you.
Then you need to decide what to do. Something as simple as going for a walk or a run is always an easy option, or you could go to the local gym or community centre to try something like Zumba classes or yoga. Find something that you will enjoy but that also helps with your fitness and offers the benefits of a little self-care session.
Don’t be afraid to spend a little money
There are loads of things you can do for free, both with the kids and on your own. But don’t be afraid to spend a little money to do something you really fancy. For example, maybe you want to take up golf and play a round a couple of times a month? Then go to Golfposer, do some research on the basic gear you need and set aside some regular funds for course fees.
Perhaps you want the flexibility of something like a gym membership instead? You can find reasonable gym memberships for £20-30 and there are often ones that are open late or even 24 hours a day. This means once the kids have gone to sleep, you can head off to the gym for that dedicated time to work on your fitness.
Take time for yourself
Taking time to work on your fitness and keeping yourself in good condition is about more than just looking good, although that is always nice! It helps you feel your best, strengthen your body and cope better with the stress of life. Time away from the family, especially if you are home-schooling your children, is an important part of your routine and is something you should definitely plan into your schedule.
