We all appreciate the importance of physical activity in a healthy lifestyle. Being physically active regularly can have many benefits, both for physical and mental health. It can significantly boost your mood. Exercising supports the production of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, chemicals that trigger a positive feeling. Together they help regulate mood, reduce stress, and improve your sleep cycles. Additionally, as you exercise, you support cardiovascular health, build strong muscles, support bone structures, and help deliver oxygen and nutrients through the blood to your organs.
Unfortunately, as a busy mom, you can find it tricky to make time to go to the gym. Besides, not everyone enjoys gyms. So what are your options to stay fit without going to the gym?
Walk as much as you can
Walking is one of the simplest ways of incorporating exercise into your day-to-day life. Contrary to common belief, you don’t need to make time for walking. You can already make it a part of your routine if you live in a city. Indeed, the traffic in major cities can significantly slow down your commute. In Austin, Texas, the average vehicle speed recorded is 6mph during rush hour. New York City registers between 7 and 8 mph. Los Angeles hits the same speed as NYC. Comparatively, the average walker has a speed between 5 and 6 mph. While it remains slower, it can actually save you time and hassle to walk if you consider parking time.
Make leisure time active
What is your go-to activity during your spare time? If you’re a Netflix and chill kind of person, you might want to introduce some rules. Screen-based hobbies can be time-demanding. It’s easy to binge-watch an entire show on Netflix. Similarly, if you’ve decided to browse social media, you could lose yourself in cute cat videos on YouTube, spending several hours on the screen. Screen time is not just unhealthy, but it also stresses your mind and body. So, if you’re going to stay fit, you need to reduce excessive screen hobbies. You can use the screen as a reward once you’ve been active. Playing games can help make physical activity enjoyable. Why not play with your dog in the garden, for instance? You can also encourage your family to join you. A game of table tennis can keep your heart racing. You can use the garden as your game area, introducing personalized cornhole bags for a family game, or adding a trampoline for fun.
Use fitness as a wellness routine
Most people think of fitness as a chore, especially if it involves commuting to the gym. It can be time-demanding and stressful. But it can become an easy routine to maintain when you find ways to include fitness in your day-to-day activities, such as by walking to the shops or playing in the garden. Fitness is good for your body and your mind. As you begin to experience the positive influence of exercising — better sleep quality, mental focus, etc. —, you will find it easier to think of it as a self-care routine.
In conclusion, being physically active doesn’t mean you have to take a gym membership and commute to the studio regularly. On the contrary, this might make it tough to stick with your routine. Instead, making physical activity a natural part of your everyday life turns fitness into an actual walk in the park!
