Now I know what you are thinking. Exercising can be tedious and annoying, especially after everything we have to do during the day like school, work, extra curriculars, homework, and more! It is one of those things that we know we should do but do not always want to. To make matters worse, we now have masks we need to work around due to the pandemic. But what if there are ways to stay active that do not feel like daily chores? What if staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be easy and maybe even fun?
Studies recommend a certain amount of activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle with the amount of exercise time and intensity varying by age group.
The Insider Website shares an interesting chart which can be visualized below:
The chart shows the exercise recommendations for children’s age groups. But even clear guidelines like this can put a lot of pressure on us to make sure we meet those goals. Be sure you are not getting too much exercise as this can put a lot of stress on your body. But let us start easy. Here are some physical activities you can do to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Running
Running is one of those activities that is easily accessible to everyone and really helps with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Insider mentions that “Running not only helps kids develop healthy hearts, lungs, and coordination, but it can also improve cognitive performance, mental health, and academic performance”. This is coming from Candice Taylor Lucas who is an Associate Professor at University of California Irvine in the School of Medicine. It explains that maintaining good physical heath has a positive effect in other areas as well.
But how can we make running fun? Chasing and being chased in a game of tag is enough exercise to get your heart rate pumping. For older kids, think of ‘Capture the Flag, soccer, and even football. Participating in a sport can fulfil your running needs.
Jumping
Jumping is only a little bit further above bouncing when it comes to intensity. Most humans were already bouncing as babies and it is a great way to develop coordination and balance while also strengthening legs and core muscles.
There are a variety of activities that can be easily performed and incorporated into your daily routine. Jump roping is a great activity and can really get your heart rate pumping.
According to a study made by Nebahat Eler and Hakan Acar in 2018, children who would jump rope three times a week showed more strength and endurance after a 10 week period than other children who only participated in normal physical education programs.
For more activity recommendations, check out the Insider website where you can find fun tips to fit exercise into your routine without being overwhelming.
Girl Pow-R, a pop-rock group of girls ages 11-16, is taking initiative in teaching young girls healthy physical and mental habits. For more information on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, contact info(at)girlpow-r.com.