How to Fit in Movement Around a Busy Life As a Mother?- Cordelia Simpson
Finding it impossible to squeeze in time to move? What with school-runs, play dates, parent taxi runs, attempting to have a social life, not to mention possibly trying to hold down a job too… I’m feeling your pain!
There are so many benefits to being active, ideally, I start my day walking the dogs. I love being in the fresh air – it clears my mind and helps to start my day with fresh energy and instantly the movement has begun.
I see movement as part of my self-care routine – if I don’t get it in, I know I’m going to feel sluggish and unable to function to my best ability and in my household that is not an option!
Here are just some of the benefits to more movement:
• Increases energy levels
• Reduces fat
• Controls weight
• Builds strength
• Improves mood
• Reduces stress
• Improves sleep
So I’ve put together 5 simple steps that always get me moving:
1.Walk
Sounds simple right? Good news it is!
• Ditch the car and walk
• Use public transport
• Take the stairs (back away from the elevator!) – the more flights the better.
2. Get outside
Fresh air is so uplifting; I’m out rain or shine:)
• If you have a dog walk it.
• If you don’t, just walk around a park or somewhere beautiful for at least 20mins per day.
3. Use a step counter
A bit of healthy competition never hurts.
• 10,000 steps a day
• Compete with friends or even better, adversaries!
4. Group exercise
This is an amazing way to meet likeminded people, it might take trying lots of different classes, you’ll get there…
• Community classes are usually more affordable and close to your home.
• Dancing, boxing, yoga, swimming, running…find something that works for you.
• 2-3 hours a week – lunch breaks, crack of dawn, late evening.
Find a time that works, it’s going to be worth it.
5. Move with your kids/ partner/ friends
It’s always more fun together!
• Take classes together; tennis, swimming, dancing, judo, yoga…
• Great excuse to kick a ball around, go on a bike ride, roller skate, rounders in the park…
• Garden sports are always fun; table tennis, badminton, cricket…get active together!
• Pick active days out like trampoline parks, climbing walls, bike ramps where you can all get involved. Active parents = active kids.
Of course, there’ll be days it doesn’t happen – let’s face it we all need a day of rest but I really think getting into a routine is the best way to start. Expect a lot from yourself! Aim high! You won’t want to let yourself down, we’re our own worst critics.
It’s so important for me to show my 4 children that being active is a way of life – it doesn’t have to be a massive drag! It’s actually when some of the best memories are made.
10 Way To Live More Sustainably – Erin Burns
Sustainability is the word hot on everybody’s lips right now-and for a very good reason, but what exactly does it mean and what can we do about it? Well, sustainability can be best understood as meeting our current needs without negatively impacting the ability of...
Top 4 reasons why the Planetary Diet is a Winner – Anna Porter
Want a healthy diet and to play your part in a sustainable food system? Look no further! The planetary diet was born out of desire to provide nutritious food to the worlds fast growing population whilst preserving the planet. According to researchers, the Earth can...
How To Stay Calm In a Crazy World- Francesca Elliott
Yoga Yoga helps me to escape, not only when I am teaching my clients but also when I am self-practicing. Yoga has taught me to acknowledge how my body and mind are feeling in any given moment, making me less reactive in any given situation. A yoga class is the only...
My Experience with Offline 48 – John Henderson
“The internet used to be an escape from reality, now reality is an escape from the internet” - Unknown My smartphone is like an additional part of my body these days, its always right there in my hand or at hand in my pocket. I spend countless hours scrolling...
How to Join the Anti-diet Revolution- Sarah Glover-Smith
Diet culture; it’s been getting a lot of attention recently, but it’s been a part of our society for years. It’s the voice that screams at you as you look in the mirror and curse yourself for eating that packet of digestives. It’s the reason you can’t wear shorts,...
Dogs and how they benefit our mental health and wellbeing- Holly Snowdon
'No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich' - Louis Sabin There’s a reason why dogs are often referred to as ‘man’s best friend’. I’m confident in my assumption that NOBODY will greet you with as much enthusiasm and joy...
My Top 5 Non-aesthetic Reasons to Workout- Tori Porter
Once we leave the childhood innocence of playing football or stuck in the mud in a field behind, exercise shifts from a playtime activity to becoming, for many, about weight loss. I think we’ve all been there, trying to make up for excessive pizza and alcohol but...
How can we make our wardrobes more sustainable?- Gemma Newton
We hear the term ‘sustainability’ used a lot nowadays, but it’s not without good reason. More recently, we’ve begun to hear the phrase ‘sustainable wardrobe’. This is almost certainly a reaction to the devastating impact fast fashion is having on the environment. I...
Beating fatigue with food- Naomi Laws
We’ve all been there. It’s that time again where we’ve had a terrible nights sleep (or perhaps even no sleep!), either due to a late night with friends, or just purely from the inability to go to sleep. But alas, morning is here (how is it morning so quickly?) and we...
6 Ways to Be Live More Sustainably- Elen Mai
Sustainable living has been the hot topic of 2019. If you haven't heard of the climate crisis, then you must have been living under a rock! Following a lengthy protest in the heart of London, the UK government declared an official climate emergency. It seems as though...