- Make food and exercise fun for the whole family by finding activities that everyone enjoys.
- Practice good hygiene habits to reduce the risk of illnesses spreading.
- Make family time fun by engaging in activities that build closer connections with your kids.
- Establish rules regarding the use of gadgets and devices to protect your children from potential harm.
- Practice gratitude daily to help keep spirits up during tough times.
Being family nowadays can be stressful especially now when there are so many exciting things happening that just keep on taking up so much of your time.
It can be hard to find quality time together as a family. A popular recent survey commissioned for a tourism organization has found that Americans are only spending right about 37 minutes of good “quality time” together as a family on weekdays.
But it is possible! Here are five healthy habits that you and your family can incorporate into your daily lives to help you in staying healthy and happy even if you’re all busy.
Move Your Body Every Day
Exercise improves mood, increases energy levels, relieves stress, boosts immunity, and helps maintain a healthy weight. You don’t even have to leave home, just find simple ways you & your family can move throughout the day
Fun Activities and Exercises Great for the Whole Family
- Get creative with yoga. Yoga is a great way to get the whole family moving and can be done in virtually any space.
- Make fitness fun with family games & challenges. Games like tag, hide-and-seek, and jump rope are great ways to get your family moving.
- Go for a walk together in the park. Walking together with the family out in the park is a wonderful way of moving your body and enjoying family time together.
- Try a new sport or activity together. You and your kids can always try out a new sport together like soccer, tennis, or basketball.
Practice Mindful Eating Habits
Eating well-balanced meals is important for staying healthy. Try to eat together as a family and cook meals together whenever you can.
Here are some fun and easy recipes that you as a family can make and eat together.
Easy and Fun Food Recipes Your Family Can Make Together
You can start by trying out stir-fried vegetables, veggie hummus wraps, creamy quesadillas, baked mac and cheese, some tomato soup, and even easy-baked fish tacos.
You can even let the kids try to get creative by making their own healthy food recipes for the family.
Make Family Time Fun
Family bonding activities should be enjoyable experiences and not feel forced like an errand or chore to do. You can plan fun outings such as picnics, hikes, and games nights where parents & children alike relax & enjoy themselves.
Some family activities that will surely create lasting memories while building closer connections together are the following:
Good Family Bonding Ideas
Make an indoor bonding time fun by having a movie night, and playing board games and card games.
For your family bonding outside the house, you can go on nature walks or hikes.
Get creative by starting an art project for the entire family to work on or put on a show (play, dance routine, etc.)
Too much exposure to screens has been linked with poor concentration & cognitive development so try replacing screen time with more active pursuits.
When it comes to gadgets, statistics would tell us a lot about how many children are utilizing them in their daily lives. In recent reports, 67.11% of children who were of schooling age and participated in a survey, were reported to use mobile phones daily. 24.48% used electronic gadgets in attending their online classes.
Practice Good Hygiene Habits
Teaching your children the importance of hygiene at an early age prevents illness from spreading within the household while instilling proper habits later in life that your children will bring with them everywhere they go like washing their hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds and taking regular showers or baths daily to stay clean and fresh.
It is also important to get your kids used to change their toothbrushes every three months along with brushing, flossing, and gargling daily, as well as seeing your family dentist for regular dental checkups or cleaning, and even teeth whitening.
Have a More Positive Mindset
It’s easy to get bogged down with everyday stresses, especially during the pandemic but try to stay positive no matter what situation arises because having an upbeat attitude goes a long way.
Having a positive outlook in life can be beneficial in maintaining good health and well-being. Here are some ways to stay positive during tough times:
Ways to Stay Positive
Practice mindfulness and meditation and take breaks from negative thoughts and engage in activities that make you feel good.
Stay connected with friends and family. Try to focus on the present moment and be grateful for what you have. Lastly, seek out the help of a mental health professional if needed.
Encourage the whole family to practice gratitude daily reminding each other of small successes achieved by giving compliments and expressing love and appreciation even the smallest acts of kindness make a world of difference.
Taking care of yourself physically and mentally should be a top priority no matter how busy you or your family are. Luckily there are many simple tips and tricks like moving your body, mindful eating, and staying positive that will make living healthier lives easier.