Trying to find balance between work and private life all the while keeping your health in check can feel challenging at times. Dedicating even the smallest portion of your day to exercising feels impossible, and as a result, your health ends up on a back-burner while other important things occupy all your attention, time, and energy.
As a busy dad, you may be wondering: how do other dads manage to make time for a workout? Is it possible to fit fitness into a busy dad’s life, and if so, how? Below, four ways to make room for exercise in an already jam-packed schedule.
Find an activity you enjoy
The mistake many busy dads make is they approach exercising as if it is another tedious chore on their checklist. As a result, they feel unmotivated and uninspired to get moving, and that’s when excuses start rolling in.
When it comes to exercising, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, which is actually a good thing. This means that you can identify activities that you personally enjoy instead of doing a certain type of exercise simply because you feel you have to. Whether that’s swimming, jogging, cycling, walking, or hitting the gym, find something you love and that makes you happy. That way, you’ll feel much more motivated to stay fit instead of looking for excuses not to work out.
Make an appointment for exercise
As a busy dad, scheduling things into your calendar has probably become your second nature by now. Just like you would schedule your dental appointment, try making an appointment for exercise. Decide on the time of the day that works best for you, schedule it, and stay consistent.
Speaking of making appointments, dads should also make a habit of scheduling fitness assessments, especially if they engage in vigorous sports. Exercise, although important for health, can put a strain on our bodies. Fortunately, all it takes is typing sport physical near me in the Google search box and scheduling a comprehensive check-up. It takes seconds, and it does wonders when it comes to taking care of the effects and prevention of injuries. That way, you can stay on top of your daily duties and keep your health and fitness in check.
Grab every opportunity you can to get moving
Sometimes, life will get in the way, and you may miss a few workouts that you’ve scheduled into your calendar. However, that doesn’t mean you have to give up the thought of exercising that day completely. In reality, there are so many great opportunities for exercising that we aren’t even aware of and that can do wonders when it comes to improving our health and fitness.
Jog or walk together with your kids, hop on a treadmill during commercials, or exercise during your lunch hour. Park your car further from the office and walk, or forego the car altogether and make it a bike-to-work day. Take the stairs, get off the bus one station earlier, and wear a fitness tracker to track your progress.
Make time for rest
Finding creative ways to carve out the time to get your heart rate up is essential for maintaining optimal health. However, you need to show the same level of dedication and discipline when the time comes to rest. Depriving yourself of sleep to make time for other important things will only leave you feeling burned out.
On the other hand, when you make time for proper rest, you’re supporting your overall health and your fitness efforts. Surely, power naps are great for bringing your energy levels up. But if you want to speed up your muscle recovery, you will need to get a good night’s sleep. Try moving your bed time a bit by bringing it forward one hour earlier than usual. An extra hour may not seem as much at first, but its benefits will kick in after a while.
Wrapping up
Working fitness into your everyday routine can be hard when you’re a busy dad. However, exercise, along with nutrition and rest, is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle, and with a couple of small and simple changes, every dad, no matter how busy their schedule may be, can make time for physical activities. Not only will this help keep your health in check, but it will also make you a better dad.
