With The Kids Back at School, it’s time to Make Time for You!
We hope that you’ve had a great summer! As summer draws to a close, it’s time for the kids to go back to school. This often marks a significant transition for families everywhere. Children will feel a mix of excitement and apprehension as they return to the structured routine of school, and for you, this should give you the freedom to reclaim some much-needed personal time. This is a great opportunity to focus on your health and fitness, which often takes a backseat during the chaotic summer months, when the days are often filled with family activities, holidays, entertaining the children and running them around to various social activities. These times are so important, creating fun, happy times and lasting memories, but can also lead to less time for you and more tiredness, meaning that you put your wellbeing on hold.
The end of summer signifies the return of routines and schedules that are often more relaxed during the school holidays. You can find yourself with blocks of uninterrupted time during the day which can be a game-changer for your health and fitness, giving you the time to focus on your own needs, particularly your physical and mental health.
Now that you have this extra time, it’s not just about finding a few extra hours in the day, it’s about prioritising your self-care and being aware of the importance of maintaining your health and well-being. It should be easier to plan your day now the kids are at school, making time for exercise, relaxation and hobbies that promote well-being.
This change provides a chance to either get back into your fitness routine that you followed before summer or, if you’re new to exercise, establishing a good routine to follow. Read our blog on ‘everything a beginner needs to know about fitness’ to get you started: Everything a Beginner Needs to Know About Fitness – W Fitness
Whether you like the gym, going to a class such as yoga or Zumba, swimming or going for a walk or run, the back-to-school season offers a fresh start. This is also a great time to join local clubs such as tennis clubs or adult sports clubs which are not as easy to attend with children.
Regular exercise is the foundation of good health. It improves cardiovascular health, boosts mood, and helps to maintain a healthy weight. Additionally, the mental benefits of physical exercise are extensive. Exercise has been shown to reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression which is beneficial to everyone but especially if you are dealing with the stress related to looking after children and a household. Meditation is an excellent way to reduce stress and improve concentration, and this can be incorporated into your daily routines, providing a sense of calm and balance that carries on throughout the day. Have a read of our blog on nurturing your mental health to see how you can use different strategies and practices to look after and boost your mental well-being: Mind Matters – Nurturing Your Mental Well-being! – W Fitness and get in touch to attend our wellness event on Sunday 13th October.
The reintroduction of a structured morning routine means that once the children are off to school, you have the opportunity to carve out some time for yourself. Morning workouts are a great way to start the day. They wake you up, fill you with energy, boost your metabolism and set a positive tone for the day, however work out the best time of day for you, whether that’s in the morning, in your lunch break, in the afternoon or later in the evening.
The trick to sticking with your new exercise routine is to make it a consistent habit. Try to stick to the same time of day to exercise, make it fun, and be flexible. Things crop up and we all have to change our plans at some time or another, accept this and get back on track when you can. This works very well – the problems start when you feel that you have spoilt the day so you don’t bother exercising for the rest of the week, promising to start again on Monday. Monday is not a magical day; any day is a great day to start or continue your fitness journey. 1 day exercising is better than none and 2 days exercising is better than 1 so look at what exercise you can incorporate into your day rather than what you can’t.
If you like the structure of a gym, then look no further than W Fitness. We are a ladies’ only gym providing a comfortable and supportive atmosphere (which is great if you feel intimidated in a bigger gym). We provide a tailor-made programme for you on our resistance exercise circuit which gives you a full body workout in just 30 minutes, as well as providing over 100 classes a month which are a great way to meet people and have fun at the same time. We have a great sense of community and friendship. There is no judgement, we promote body positivity and our aim is to help ladies by making exercise as accessible to as many women as possible. Try our fun 80s aerobics class on Sunday 22nd September and meet like-minded ladies just like you: Events – W Fitness.
Visit W Fitness! We provide a comfortable and effective workout experience which will give you increased energy, improvement in your strength and flexibility, a toned body, a clear mind and the ability to manage the stresses of daily life better.
Have a great autumn term 😊
Much Love
Caroline & Hannah xx