Tips for Working Out When You’re a Single Parent
If you’re a single parent, you’ve got about a million things on your mind—money, nutrition, school, kids’ sports, laundry, and work. Your own fitness may fall onto the list of things you’d like to do but don’t have time for. But you shouldn’t think that way.
Physical fitness should be a priority in everyone’s life. It leads to healthier, longer lives, which are important to you and your children. The longer you live, the more you’ll be able to be there for your kids in the future. There are ways to fit exercise into your schedule, and sometimes you can even get the young ones to join in, creating a healthy, active lifestyle for them, too.
Here are some ways to begin a fitness regimen as a single parent:
1. Join a gym.
It might seem pretty obvious, but give it a try. There are lots of different types of gyms with different equipment, different hours, and many price points. Some gyms have family fitness activities, and some have free child care while you’re working out. If you have older children, such as teens, they might enjoy attending fitness classes with you and learning about the equipment, thus beginning their own fitness journey.
2. Create a home gym.
This sounds like an expensive investment, but it doesn’t have to be. You can find dumbbell sets, yoga mats, exercise balls, pull-up bars, and more at reasonable prices. Maybe budget to buy one piece of equipment per month until you have an array of options. You can also buy exercise DVDs or sign up for streaming fitness services, which allow you to use lots of different fitness videos for one monthly price. Do dance fitness one day, yoga the next, then kickboxing, and so on. It’s like having a full gym without having to go anywhere. This guide from Redfin discusses some of the equipment you’ll need in your home gym.
3. Go outside.
This is easier to do in the summer, depending on where you live, but don’t let the weather stop you—bundle up when it’s cold or wet. Go for a walk or run around the neighborhood and take the kids with you. Younger kids can sit in a stroller, and older kids can walk or run with you. Take the whole family on a bike ride or hike in the woods, or play soccer in the backyard or at a park. In winter, build a snowman or take the kids to a nearby ski slope. There are endless ways to get fit outside year-round without even feeling like exercise.
4. Have a dance party.
Turn up the tunes and boogie down with your kids. They’ll absolutely love it, and you’ll all get exercise. You can dance to kids’ tunes or introduce them to your old jams. The bonus is it will wear the kids out, and you’ll all sleep better.
5. Go to the pool, beach, or lake.
In warmer months, take the kids swimming. Learning to swim is a vital skill that could save their lives one day. Spending time in the water is a great way to exercise for the whole family. If your kids are old enough to play in the shallow end, you can go swim laps. If you have younger kids, put them in a floatie and pull them around the pool. The extra resistance of the water will give you a workout, and your child will love it.
Do your best to make physical fitness a priority. Staying physically fit will help you live longer and be there for your children. It will also model a healthy lifestyle for your children, who will grow up to be strong, healthy adults.