Back to School Fitness Tips for Moms

Back to School Fitness Tips for Moms : For Moms across the U.S., Back to School season has officially begun. If you haven’t already gone shopping for school supplies and new clothes, chances are you will be soon, and then it’s all mayhem from there.

Scheduling transportation, managing after school care, signing up for classroom volunteering, coordinating family calendars, registering for fall sports, helping plan the fall fundraiser . . . the list goes on! As the kids head back to school, your fitness routine may head out the door.

Don’t let it! With these quick tips and creative ideas, you won’t have to say goodbye to your waistline just because life gets a little hectic.

Check out these Back to school fitness tips for moms:

Schedule It

Don’t try and squeeze a workout in around all your other daily tasks – organize your schedule around your fitness routine. Why? By prioritizing your regular workouts you’re claiming ownership of your own health and wellness as well as feeding into a positive cycle of self-care. Exercise makes you feel better by tackling common aches and pains and boosting your mood and confidence. This then cycles back into your taking pride in yourself and prioritizing time to workout (not to mention setting a great example for your kids)!

Keep Up with Sleep

Once school gets back in gear, evenings quickly fill up with family dinners, homework time, signing forms, nightly reading, and trying to get ready for the next school day. Don’t catch yourself staying up late to make lunches or depriving yourself of much-needed sleep so you can get ahead on work for the next day. When your sleep suffers, so does your overall health and poor sleep can quickly negate the benefits you reap from working out. Trouble sleeping? Try using a pillow for neck pain, avoiding blue light from digital devices before you go to bed, and skipping the afternoon latte packed with caffeine.

Manage Stress

It’s easy to get bogged down by the go-go-go of back to school season. Not only is all the shopping, PTA fees, and team dues a drain on the bank account, but it often seems like you’re short on time and scrambling to be three places at once. Managing stress plays an important role in maintaining your fitness routine and a balanced diet. Try stress-relieving practices like taking a warm bath before bed, adult coloring, aromatherapy, listening to calming music, or venturing out for brisk walks in nature to keep yourself on track and sane.

Eat Real Food

The chaos of a school morning trying to get the kids ready and out the door to catch the bus leaves many moms skipping breakfast and intermittently snacking on packaged and processed foods throughout the day. Don’t get stuck in this junk food trap! Prioritize a healthy breakfast to start your day off right (pre-cut fresh smoothie fixings, for example), and pack healthy snacks for when you’re on the go – berries, nuts, whole grain granola bars, yogurt, etc. Your balanced diet of real whole foods will benefit your health, your waistline, and your energy levels throughout the day.

Work It In

Want to amp up your physical fitness by incorporating more exercise into your daily routine naturally? Try volunteering to coach one of your kid’s youth sports teams. At work, park farther away in the parking lot so you have to walk more steps to the door, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and wear a back brace for posture to keep yourself aligned and productive. Or simply join your kids during their afternoon playtime. Young children need at least an hour of physical activity a day – it not only benefits their health but can help them sleep better at night and keeps their minds sharp for learning. Don’t hesitate to join them for an afternoon bike ride or kickball game!