Hey There Parent’s!
Let’s talk about how easy it is to put yourself dead last – and how easy it is to tell yourself a story titled “I don’t have time – I am Prioritizing my Children Right Now”… I hear this all the time from parents. Here’s the thing – if you don’t start the habit of making time now, it only gets harder to do later!
Well, it’s time to tell a different story. I want to start by saying I also live this life: Carpooling children from place to place, running a business, maintaining a relationship, keeping up with the house, – the list goes on! I have realized that exercise is essential to me feeling great in my day-to-day life, and key to my long-term health goals.
Don’t get me wrong! You are perfect and lovely exactly how you are, and I’m not telling you to exercise because you aren’t good enough! Exactly the opposite – you absolutely deserve to feel great, have lots of energy, be able to do all the things you want to do and live a long healthy life. Those things will only happen when you get yourself on the priority list.
Now let’s talk about your kids. They deserve to have a parent who is energized and feeling their best. So that little bit of time you take to yourself, your kids get back in extra energy from you! That’s short-term.
Long-term – where will you be in 20-30 years if you don’t take care of your health and fitness? Will you be turning up for your kids to help them with the grandkids? Will you be able to continue living independently and doing the activities you love? Reality check – if you don’t take care of yourself now, you are very likely to need help from your kids frequently by the time you are in your 60s (or younger!). Personally, I hope to be a super active grandma that can help my kids with their families and make their lives easier.
What do your kids learn when they see you prioritizing you own health and wellness? They learn that exercise is an important part of life, like brushing your teeth, taking a shower and eating. By demonstrating this healthy habit for our kids they are more likely to stay active as they continue into adulthood! They learn their roles in the family… do we want to teach our daughters to grow up and put themselves dead last? Do we want to teach our sons that their wives shouldn’t have time to take care of themselves? NO! We want to show our kids that exercise is an important part of self-care and that we all deserve to take the time for our healthy life.
So, the next time you catch yourself using your kids as an excuse to not do things for your own health and fitness – change the story – let them be your motivation and NOT your excuse!
Not sure where to start? Book a Free Fitness Consult with me to chat.