Exercise is an important component of life that helps our bodies remain fit, fight off disease, and increase overall wellbeing.

Family Health & Fitness Day will be held on June 11, 2022. Celebrated the second Saturday in June each year, this special day promotes the importance of parks and recreation in keeping communities healthy and active.

Family Habits

Our family and loved ones play an important role in our health and fitness. Yes, we share genes with our family, but we tend to develop food and health habits from them as well. When living in the same household, it makes it hard to break out of unhealthy patterns when everyone around you is doing it.

Family Health and Fitness Day remind us to put family fitness first. Exercise and physical activity don’t only increase physical and cardiovascular health, but they can improve sleep, reduce stress, increase attention and learning, and minimize illness. 

COVID-19 effects on health and fitness

During the COVID-19 pandemic where hard lockdown restrictions were in place, many families struggled to find ways to keep themselves active. With gyms being closed, schools going remote, and sports practices being canceled, many felt that the last 2 years have been the unhealthiest in their lives.

This is concerning as more than two-thirds of adults and one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or obese. Shockingly enough, a lack of exercise now causes as many deaths as smoking.

Juggling a family and work can be stressful and time-consuming, and exercise often sits at the bottom of the list of things to do. It is important to realize that active parents raise active children. Fitness should always be a priority in a family’s daily schedule.

Benefits of Family Fitness

As parents, you are role models for your kids and making family fitness a priority sets a great example for them to follow. By leading by example or being their role model, you are accountable for your own behavior. In the process of getting your kids active, you yourself are also reaping the benefits.

While Family Health & Fitness Day is only one day, it should be celebrated every day. Exercising and enjoying public parks and facilities is something to be grateful for. By exercising as a family, you are protecting your health and the future health of your loved ones, as well as deepening the bond you have with them.

Parks provide a connection to nature, which is a form of stress relief. Nearly 3 in 5 adults say that access to park and recreation amenities is essential to their mental and physical health. Living close to parks and other recreation facilities are consistently related to higher physical activity levels for both adults and youth.

Start with Walking

Walking is a fantastic way to kickstart your health and fitness because almost anyone can do it, no matter how unfit they are. It’s also easy and doesn’t cost a penny. Walking for just 20 minutes per day will help you get fit, prevent certain health conditions and boost your mood. It’s simple, free, great for the environment, and doesn’t require any special equipment.

Apart from helping you control your weight, walking boosts your circulation and gets those feel-good hormones flowing.  It strengthens your bones and muscles, reduces stress, and helps you disconnect from your problems.

Healthy living as a lifestyle

The key is to find fitness activities that inspire you to keep moving. To avoid falling into a rut, change things up every now and then. Find exercises and games that you can do together, separately, or both—whatever works for your family.

A healthy lifestyle and family fitness is a way of life, a non-instant fix. Take time to make changes and form new habits. Having the right mindset will help you and your family achieve your goals.

Ready, set, go!

Sources:

https://whitworthchemists.co.uk/blog/articles/get-active-walking-for-health

https://www.geisinger.org/health-and-wellness/wellness-articles/2019/08/27/15/29/6-ways-to-celebrate-family-health-and-fitness-day

https://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/fitness-for-the-whole-family

https://www.verywellfamily.com/fitness-4157316