Stay Fit as a Family During this Special Time

As the COVID-19 crisis continues and families shelter in place, staying fit and keeping active is a wonderful way to spend family time, improve overall health, and decrease stress. But how do you encourage family fitness during this special time?

Kids are accustomed to being active while in school, so without P.E. class or organized sports, parents need to find good alternatives. Undoubtedly, physical activity is important for everyone, regardless of age. For children, it has been proven to improve physical health, and gives emotional and cognitive benefits.

Do you have a workout routine at home? Invite your kids to join you, if appropriate. Set a good example of being active, even if it means taking fitness indoors or adjusting routines. Incorporating physical activities into your family routine doesn’t necessarily mean that your family has to leave home.

Set realistic goals

Do not crush your family’s motivation by setting unattainable goals. Why not get off to a good start by setting small goals that can easily be achieved? Include your kids in the conversation during goal-setting.

Some examples:

• 3 sets of squats or jumping jacks each day. You may choose to increase the number of sets on a daily basis.
• At least 5 days a week, go for a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood as a family.

Remember, setting small, achievable goals will do wonders in keeping the family motivated. It will also start you on the path of making healthy, long-term habits!

Make it fun!

Most people think of exercise as an unpleasant chore in their to-do list, or as an unnecessary evil. Change that general mindset and make family fitness enjoyable for the family! 

Doing the same exercise routine daily will get old and boring, so add some variety to it. From walking, riding a bike, joining an online workout program, to swimming (providing you have a pool), there’s a lot your family can do.

Some ideas:

• Yoga
• Dancing – have a dance-off to your favorite tunes!
• Hopscotch – use chalk or tape on your patio or driveway
• Jump rope
• Hula hoop contest
• Bear crawl or crab walk races

We recommend that you start slow and increase the intensity and length of your workouts progressively. Pace yourself, and don’t try to do a lot at once. It will frustrate your efforts and increase your risk of getting injured.

It’s worth mentioning that exercise injuries can happen to anyone. If that happens, don’t get discouraged! If you or a family member gets injured while exercising, visit your local Corpus Christi ER for proper evaluation. Physicians Premier is open 24/7, and we follow strict safety protocols.