Fitting Exercise Into A Busy Family Life

Juggling family commitments, work responsibilities and a fitness regime can be a little overwhelming from time to time, but it’s important that we make the effort to be the role models for our children, and encourage them to stay active from an early age.

The best way to encourage your children to stay active is to lead by example. We all live increasingly busy lives so it’s all about managing your time. I keep my exercise to about an hour and train locally which makes it easier to work around the demands of family life. All you need is a pair of runners and the will to get out there. Exercise not only sets a good example for your children, but it also offers you time to yourself, and this can have such a positive impact on your emotional wellbeing.

It can be hard to stick to a routine so it’s important to set targets for yourself to ensure you stay motivated. Family and work can mean time is limited but devoting just twenty minutes to yourself three times a week is enough to notice a difference in both physical and emotional wellbeing.

If you’re serious about improving your exercise routine then you need to remember that food is your fuel, so opt for the healthier options if you want to be able to maintain and meet your exercise goals. Like most parents out there, juggling family responsibilities and after-school activities means there is a temptation to reach for quick and easy dishes, but try to keep them as healthy as possible. Throwing a tin of tuna in on top of a dish of microwavable veg is better than stopping off for a takeaway! Remember that it’s important to be kind to yourself, and we definitely treat ourselves to cake and coffee from time to time!

I’d urge any parent out there to come along with the family to the Irish Life Health Festival of Running on July 28th in Morton Stadium Santy and join myself and Rob in enjoying a fun filled day of athletics activities for all the family. There is a 1 Mile Fun Run and a Family 3k Race which are both great starting points for anyone looking to get the family active.

Further Details relating to the Irish Life Health Festival of Running can be found at: www.athleticsireland.ie/runzone/irish-life-health-festival-of-running/