How To Prioritize Your Health and Family Fitness During the Back To School Chaos

School is starting back up, and while parents might be ready for some peace and quiet, it also carries new routines and new stresses to adjust to. But don’t let anxiety and stress take over. The kids returning to school means parents and caregivers have more time to focus on online workouts with virtual fitness training. “Moms especially can look forward to getting more “me” time and figure out how to use that time to feel better and focus on their sanity/longevity as well as nutrition,” says Shellie Edington, Owner of Edington Family Fitness.

We’re here to help you navigate this stressful transition time and pin down ways to continue your family fitness by staying active when the kids are in school and as a family facing a new schedule. 

Schedule It

Don’t be a slave to your schedule; instead, take control. Schedule your priorities like family fitness and online workouts and stick to them. If something comes up, it’s okay to say no and stay committed to your virtual fitness plan. You don’t have to do everything all the time. Prioritize your fitness goals by scheduling them and keeping them just as important as everything else that comes up during the back-to-school rush.  

Walk

One way to squeeze in family fitness and spend some quality time even during the busy back-to-school and fall season is to walk. Plan to walk in the evenings as a family to get your family fitness steps in. The CDC recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity a week. You can easily accomplish this with five 30-minute walks a week. Kids should aim for 60 minutes of exercise daily, and 30 minutes of walking with you in the evenings helps them reach that goal. Walking is also a great time to relax, de-stress, and unwind together.

Lift Weights

When the kids are at school is the perfect opportunity for you to reach for your fitness goals. Lifting weights is a great way to do just that. Weight training has so many benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, it helps reduce body fat, increase lean muscle, burn calories, strengthen your bones, help you manage weight and chronic conditions, sharpen your mind, and enhance your overall quality of life. And it doesn’t have to be a strenuous workout for you to reap the benefits. Body weight moves, resistance bands, free weights, and weight machines can all accomplish strength training. If you aren’t sure what to do, tune in to Edington Family Fitness online workouts and follow along. 

Take Advantage of Online Workouts

There’s no need to spend a lot of money and join a gym. Online workouts like those found on Edington Family Fitness are a great way to get your workout in while the kids are at school. Our program offers scheduled virtual fitness classes daily for adults and kids, as well as a library of recorded online workouts that you can do any time that fits your schedule. We also offer in person training if you are wanting more accountability or to learn new skills.

Meal Prep

Now that you have some ideas on how to take advantage of solo fitness, it’s time to think about nutrition too. The key to staying in control of your nutrition and feeding your family healthy options, even during busy times, is meal prep. Take some time on Sunday to prep your food for the week. Cut up fruit and vegetables, set aside healthy snacks, and even put together some meals you can heat up in a pinch. Prepping your meals ahead of time supports your family fitness goals by allowing you to eat healthy even when things get busy. It also reduces your anxiety and helps you avoid the drive-thru on hectic weeknights. 

Give Yourself Grace

Remember to go easy on yourself if you miss a workout or eat off plan. Things come up and can be unavoidable, but don’t let it derail all your fitness and nutrition goals. Just get back to it with your next meal or online workout. 

Edington Family Fitness programming provides an efficient total body workout through functional virtual fitness and in person options that combines strength development and high-intensity intervals. Coach Shellie is a professional athlete and certified trainer with a passion for helping people become the best version of themselves. Edington Family Fitness delivers online workouts to you and the whole family that can be done anywhere.