Do you feel like your family is stuck in a rut? If ordering pizza and binge-watching How I Met Your Mother is your new norm, don’t worry. You’re definitely not alone. And, at least you’re doing it together.
We all get in ruts sometimes. But it’s important to be able to identify those moments and pull ourselves out. Things like exercise and nutrition can help shape the type of family you become.
If you want to be the happy, active and close-knit variety, you’ll want to make an effort to improve everyone’s overall health.
Try these 6 techniques to improve your family’s overall health.
1. Cook more meals at home
At least one study has shown that people who cook more at home eat fewer calories. And this even extends to when they’re out. The people who cook more are less likely to overdo it on food when they eat out.
2. Communicate more often
Cooking more meals at home gives you a great opportunity to sit around the dinner table and talk. This is a great habit for any family and it may even help your child in their career at some point.
Even if your children aren’t excited about participating, ask questions and talk about your day. Make this a normal part of your day and they’ll get used it. Eventually, the goal is for everyone to get comfortable talking to each other.
This works really well when you start young and stay consistent. If you start your child on this habit as a toddler, it won’t feel awkward or forced when she’s a teenager.
Talking about the highs and lows of your day can help your entire family maintain positive mental and emotional health.
3. Exercise together
You know you need to exercise, but if you aren’t doing it, a little moral support may help. And what could be better than the support from your family?
Exercising as a family can not only improve your health and wellbeing, but it can also help you bond with one another.
Try going for a walk as a family after dinner. If you’re more active, up it to a jog or a bike ride.
4. Get on top of your calendar
To ensure your family stays healthy, make sure everyone is making their annual checkups. This includes physicals, gynecology appointments and dental cleanings.
Keep a shared calendar of everyone’s appointments, so the appropriate people can get reminders when the time is coming up. If you need to drive or coordinate transportation, this can help you too.
5. Banish bad habits
If you and your partner are setting a bad example for the kids in any way, it’s time to kick those bad habits to the curb. This includes things like drugs, alcohol, nicotine, binge eating or gambling. These aren’t easy habits to kick, so you may want to research different treatment types when the time is right.
It always takes a bit of effort to pull yourself out of a rut, but the effort is well worthwhile. Get your family on board and before you know it, you’ll be one of those happy, fit families you’ve always envied.
