As a parent, it falls to us to get our kids as active and as adventurous as possible. And over time, it might feel like a bit of a challenge - more so if your children like to play computer games rather than play Pooh Sticks. However, there are a few ways that you can be more active as a family without having to fight about it on a Sunday morning.
Photo by Robert Collins on Unsplash
The thing is, everyone has so much to do. School runs, work, extracurricular clubs, family commitments, and life in general. So booking in time to be more active can feel like a chore rather than something fun.
However, here are a few great and easy ways that you become more active as a family.
Lead By Example
This is one area that you can practice what you are preaching. If you want to make sure the kids get out into the woods, or to the local nature reserve, then they have to see it as fun. And, usually, if you are excited about it - they will be too.
When you are out on your walks, try to keep off your mobile phone for things like social media. Take some water bottles, explore a bit, and see if you can spot any animals.
Simplify It
Rather than make a big deal about getting more active. Do things like parking further away from the shops, or the school. These will add a few extra minutes to your walk each day without too much bother. When you are out and about, take the stairs when you can instead of the lift.
Dance around the kitchen to your favorite songs - introduce them to the music that you love, and ask them to give you some suggestions too.
Somewhere New
If you tend to go to the same places all the time, they might quickly get boring. However, if you plan somewhere new to you all, you can all take pleasure in exploring together. When you choose to go somewhere new, try to leave a little earlier so that you aren’t in a rush and can drive carefully. If you have booked tickets, then leave enough journey time for it. When people are in a hurry, they are more likely to have an accident, and if that is the case, you aren’t going to want not just any personal injury law firm, you’ll want the best.
Adventure Days
If you have a jam-packed schedule, you might struggle to head out into the great outdoors every week. So, perhaps it is better to plan one big adventure every month instead. This way, you have time to save money, plan the route, find coupons or vouchers, and plan the perfect picnic.
And finally, there are still going to be days where you are all feeling low on energy. And when that happens, rather than take a big adventure, take a slow stroll in the local area instead.
Getting more active is always more fun if everyone has the energy to enjoy it.
*This is a collaborative post*
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Parenthood is the greatest gift ever, but it's hard! There are times when, as a mum, you feel and look run down. It's at times like these when you've got to get yourself out of a rut to prevent negative thoughts from creeping into your head. If you've got kids, you'll know that it's easier to say than it is to do. Children are just so relentless! However, there are basic and easy ways to maintain your patience and develop a positive mental attitude that never waivers.
Carry on reading to find out more about the ways you can refresh your outlook on motherhood.
Get Out Of The House
Staying in is straightforward. The kids love a pyjama day, and you can't deal with handling for multiple children in public. Of course, staying inside only encourages one emotion: stir craziness. Without sunlight and fresh air, it's not hard to lose your temper and overanalyze life. If you're worried about the stress of leaving the house, remember to plan a day where you can afford the kids some freedom. A fantastic example is to go to a soft play area where they will burn their energy while you sit and watch.
Exercise Early
Children are early risers, which makes working out in the morning pretty tough. Still, it's not impossible if you get them into a routine. Letting them stay up a little later should mean they sleep in for an extra half an hour, affording you the luxury of beginning your day with exercise. Releasing endorphins and adrenaline by getting the blood pumping is proven to help mental health, so it's well worth tweaking your alarm clock. There's no need to go to the gym because home workouts are as effective. Walking is another excellent alternative if you don't feel like pounding the pavement.
Change Your Wardrobe
As the saying goes, to look good is to feel good. Staring in the mirror and not judging the image looking back is great for your self-esteem and confidence, and permeates every area of your life. Plus, it's not challenging. Buying timeless pieces in the right colours and size is the most natural thing in the world, thanks to the internet. Whether it's a dusty and pastel color for dresses that you're after or figuring-hugging jeans, they're a click of a button away. Of course, you can use shopping as an excuse to get out of the house and pass the time without watching Thomas the Tank Engine or Peppa Pig on repeat!
Enjoy Me Time
Weekdays are for you and the kids, but weekends should include 'me' time. Although getting away from your children might sound impossible now, it's the perfect antidote. After all, distance makes the heart grow fonder. Also, don't forget about your other relationships. Parents will know that it's challenging to make time for their partners, which is why a Saturday night date is what the doctor ordered for you and the kids.
How do you make sure you regularly feel good?
*This is a collaborative post*
Anyone can develop chronic pain and there are lots of different causes that could become an issue for you. One of the issues with injuries is that it can take a while for the impact to show up and be felt. You can be injured and the full extent of the pain might not be apparent for over a year. That’s why you should always get checked out by a doctor if you are involved in an accident.
Chronic pain can also develop for what seems like no reason at all. Fibromyalgia is a recognised condition that causes chronic pain. However, thus far researchers have not been able to pinpoint the actual cause.
This is a problem, particularly if you’re an active problem and you love working out. You might hate the idea of not being able to work out as much as you used to. The good news is that you won’t need to do this because there are ways to continue to work out even if you are suffering from chronic pain. Let’s explore some of the options.
Using Typical Pain Medicine
One option would be to use the typical medicine that you can get over the counter or that can be prescribed by your doctor. This is great because it means that you won’t feel the true extent of your chronic pain. That could, theoretically, allow you to continue to exercise freely. However, there is an issue to be aware of here.
The medicine will only be masking the pain, not dealing with the cause. This is different from dealing with short term pain because the medicine will often reduce levels of inflammation that are impacting your body. That’s why the next tip is also important.
Take It Slower
While you don’t need to stop completely when you are suffering from chronic pain, you do need to think of going at a slower pace and completing less. This takes the pressure of your body to perform at the same level when struggling with pain.
For instance, you might want to think about lowering the amount that you are lifting. Alternatively, you can think about taking a couple of miles off the distance that you usually run. It can be a little disappointing at first when you realise that you won’t be able to do as much as used to. However, you will soon adjust and gain the benefits of not pushing your body to the point of pain.
Try Alternative Medicine
There is a range of alternative medicines that have been linked to benefits for those suffering from chronic pain. One of the most recent examples of this is CBD oil. Research is currently ongoing into how CBD could help individuals suffering from chronic pain but it is already available on the market
Different Types Of Exercise
Finally, you should think about exploring different types of exercises. Some are more beneficial for those suffering from chronic pain. You should definitely think about gentle swimming. Swimming is great for burning fat but is also useful for soothing aching muscles.
*This is a collaborative post*
Having insecurities is the worst thing in the world. If you think back to the times when you were a young child, and all you worried about was your mom putting your clothes on quick enough in the morning so you could go and play. When you went outside to play, the insults would not be based on looks, so you would hardly ever have anything to feel insecure about. But then as you get older, the insecurities come in thick and fast. We're led to believe that unless we're a perfect supermodel with perfect features and a perfect body, that we're not good looking. We like to pick out even the smallest of faults with how we look, even if there is nothing to complain about. We create faults in our minds that other people don't see. It might have been a little comment someone made a few years ago, but once it has been made it sticks in your mind. So, we want to dive right in, and speak about a few of the insecurities that you might have, and how we can tackle them!
A Fear Of Smiling
One that we wanted to talk about first, because when you think about insecurities, people often think about the general looks of themselves. But to be more specific, one really common insecurity that people suffer with is their smile. You'll notice that some people only smile with their lips closed, simply because they're so fearful of their teeth. If this is something you can relate to, it could be for many different reasons. It might be that you've got a crooked smile, your teeth don't line up, or perhaps some have fell out. Teeth falling out is far more common than you first might think. It can happen because of a poor diet, a genetic condition, or perhaps an injury. All you have to do is lose one tooth and it can completely ruin your confidence in your smile. Having a full set of teeth again might be something you have dreamt about for years, and it's easier to achieve than you might think. You can get dental implants on a finance deal, so you pay monthly to have your smile back again! There are many other conditions with the mouth that can be treated. Braces can treat teeth that are out of line and there are now invisible braces that will stop you from feeling insecure about having them!
Weight Control
Weight control is one that people suffer with the most. The most common issue is for people to manage a high weight. It's far easier to put weight on that it is to lose it. So once the weight is on, people suffer with both the motivation to get it down, and maintenance to keep it down. But that's not the only weight control that people suffer with. One that's not spoken about often enough is trying to put weight on. Some might call it a blessing, but a low BMI can cause so many health conditions, including fatigue and issues with muscles and joints. A trip to the doctors for a referral to a dietician can solve all of your problems, for both scenarios of weight control. Working with professionals to formulate a plan to follow gives you more motivation.
Unwanted Hair & Smells
Unwanted hair is something they both men and women suffer with. Women in particular can feel so insecure with unwanted body hair. It usually appears on the face and on the back, and it's hard to control. Often women turn to shaving, which can only make it worse. However, it might be an underlying condition that's causing this. Polycystic ovaries can cause unwanted hair, and it can easily be controlled. If it's not a condition, and it's a genetic fault, you might benefit using hair loss treatments. Hair can now be lasered off from pretty much every single part of the body. Even though the treatment might be expensive, it's permanent, and can give you so much confidence once it has gone!
It's All In Your Head
This is one you might want to consider. You could spend your life working at the insecurities that you have, but have you ever considered that it might be all in your head. We create faults in our head that aren't even there, so no matter how much you work at them, nothing is going to change. Sometimes you need to look at yourself and see yourself as beautiful!
*This is a collaborative post*
While Christmas is fun for the kids, for mums, no matter how experienced, it can quickly cause the overwhelming feeling that something terrible will strike suddenly and without warning. This is enough to cause panic and wonder if it is all worth it.
The good news is that it is all worth it. The bad news is that you cannot predict when disaster will strike.
But this is okay. You’re a strong mother. You’re used to things not exactly going to plan; you’ve got this. But just in case you’re unsure of what could go wrong, here are some things that might happen over Christmas, and how you can overcome them.
Getting Overwhelmed
With so much going on and so much to be done, getting overwhelmed over Christmas is almost guaranteed. However, allowing yourself to become overwhelmed with responsibilities or the feeling that what you’re doing won’t go right is a surefire way to encounter disaster.
It’s essential, then, to make sure you take some time to yourself and not put too much pressure on yourself. If you’re tasked with making Christmas dinner, delegate the more manageable tasks to your partner, or even your kids if they’re old enough. Make it a family affair, more than you doing all the work.
If you are worried about dealing with potentially toxic relatives, do your best to remind yourself that it is only for one day, and with everything you’ve dealt with in your life, you can cope with this quickly enough.
Too Much Fun
You expect your kids to have lots of fun over Christmas, you probably actively encourage it. But what happens when they have too much fun, get overexcited, and end up hurting themselves?
Sudden injuries at the worst times mean you’ll need to take a trip to the hospital or the Emergency dentist if they damage their teeth from too much running, tripping and falling. No mother wants to see their kids in pain, but with a plan in place to deal with any problems immediately, you’ll feel much more confident that Christmas can carry on as usual as soon as they’re discharged.
Things You Forget
There will also be things that you forget, whether it’s extra people coming for dinner or leaving the pudding in the oven for too long. For some people, this is enough to ruin Christmas, but it shouldn’t, so just relax.
If you do manage to leave something in the oven too long, make sure you have a backup plan in place. It may not be the exact Christmas you were planning, but with a positive attitude, it creates a story that you can tell for years to come, and as long as you make a joke about it, everyone else will, too. At least they hopefully will.
Overcoming Whatever
Christmas can be stressful and overwhelming, but often, there is not a lot you can do to stop the disasters happening. What you can do, though, is to keep a positive attitude and ride out any emergencies as best you can; besides, there’s always next year to try again.
*This is a collaborative post*
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