In our blog series this month, we are sharing about some of our favorite ways to be active. Last week Jody shared about her favorites on the blog. Jody is a hard act to follow because she is a physical activity pro. Check out our physical activity videos on the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. website for proof. I am not a pro at being active, but I try to move my body most days of the week. For me, being active is important because it gives me more energy, it improves my mood, and it helps me sleep better at night. Some of my time spent being active is alone, but I also enjoy being active with my kids. I have noticed that they experience the same benefits of being active as I do. Below are some tips I have learned over the years of us being active together.
Choose the free activity.
The free option is usually the easy option for us. When the weather is nice, we tend to go out into our yard. We set up obstacle courses for each other, play foursquare, or play backyard soccer or baseball. For backyard baseball, we use a couple of old bats, old tennis balls, and trees and bushes for the bases. We also use yardwork, like picking up sticks and weeding the garden, as a time to be active.
Take advantage of what your community has to offer.
We have a couple of free pickleball courts in the town where we live, so we have taken advantage of those and learned a new sport. We did have to buy some paddles and balls, but it was worth it because we all get a good workout making each other run around the court. We are not strict rule followers since we have a variety of ages and skill levels. Our community also has playgrounds, basketball courts, disc golf, bike paths, hiking trails, and recreation programs.
Be brave and try something new.
Back in November, my 15-year-old son wanted to start swimming a couple of days a week. Since he could not drive himself, I knew I had to go along. I had only gone to the pool to play around before and I had never really swum laps. I was nervous and self-conscious. I had an old swimsuit, I was using a busted pair of goggles, and I didn’t even know if I could make it down and back without stopping. A friendly fellow swimmer noticed our discomfort the first time and helped us get settled in a lane. It was tough at first and I still feel self-conscious from time to time, but I am becoming a stronger swimmer and I am glad we were brave enough to try it out.
Whether you are looking to be more active on your own or as a family, I encourage you to be brave and try something new at home or in your community.
