Are you prioritising health right now? The answer for most people is no, and this is going to be a huge issue, especially if you have kids. It’s your job to set the example, to be the one that they look up to. Kids are simple creatures when it boils down to it, if they see you do it, they are likely going to want to do it themselves, and that is how you encourage healthy habits in children. You’ve got to start putting health first before anything else so that you and your kids can be the healthiest versions of yourself. How can you do this though you might be wondering? Good news is that we’ve got some advice, so let’s get started.
Work On What You’re Eating
First up on the list you’re going to need to start by looking at what you are eating and what you are feeding your kids. If you are constantly just putting chicken nuggets on a try and throwing them in the oven, this is not good enough. Every now and then there is absolutely nothing wrong with this because fed is best at the end of the day, but they need fruit and they need vegetables. These are the foods that contain the nutrients that they need, and it’s important that they are getting them as much as they can. It’s the same for you though, your body needs these as well, so you can’t just ignore it.
Try to add some more fruits and vegetables to meals. We’re not saying that you have to overrun them or give them a salad that they probably won’t eat, but try to make some subtle changes. A lot of parents end up pureeing vegetables and using them in sauces to ensure that their kids are getting the nutrients that they need, so this is a good idea if you have fussy eaters. As well as this, if you find that you are lacking in certain nutrients, supplements like Sona might be the solution for you, but this is never a good idea for children, they need their nutrition from food.
Family Exercise Is Good For You
When it comes to exercising, have you considered that exercising as a family is a fantastic idea? Most families don’t, but this is a massive shame as you and your kids are missing out on some bonding time. A lot of parents go to the gym when their kids are in bed or at school, and while this is fine because you’re getting your workout in to reach your personal goals, your kids need exercise too. No, we’re not saying to take your kids to the gym and throw them on the treadmill, but there are other fun options that you can consider.
An example of this would be going to the park and running around together. This is great for getting in some exercise as you are all engaging and it’s a lot of fun. You can play tag, or something like this, or a more imaginative game if this is what you want. Or, you could even look at going hiking, just make sure that the trail is suitable for your little ones and not too demanding on them. It’s healthy and you get to spend some more time with your kids without a tablet or games console separating you, so it’s a win-win.
Speak Openly About Mental Health
Too many parents these days shy away from talking about mental health, but this is what leads to kids and teenagers who feel isolated and unable to speak to their parents about their struggles. We understand that some parents do this because they are afraid that if they talk about it they are somehow going to cause their children to feel this way, but this is not the case. It’s more important that you are open, you communicate, and you let your kids know that it’s okay to feel however they feel. Let them know that they can tell you anything and that you will be there to support them every single step of the way.
It’s also important that you back these words up with actions. When they come to you with some sort of issue or feeling, you’ve got to be there for them. Even if you don’t understand how they feel or it makes you feel a certain way, you’ve got to push this aside and be there for your child, or else they will never come to you again.
Bedtime Is Important
Sleep is one of the most important parts of health, and it’s not something that you should be ignoring. Yes, it’s true that you can survive on minimal hours of sleep but this isn’t good for you and eventually you are going to burn out from sheer exhaustion. In order to avoid this happening, you need to set yourself a bedtime and stick to it as much as you can. Sure, there are going to be days where this is more difficult than others, but generally you want to set yourself a bedtime that you are able to keep to, and you can then wake up at a similar time each morning.
Set yourself a bedtime routine to go through before you hit the hay to get your brain used to this sequence of events. Trust us when we say that this is a much easier way to get your brain to go to sleep than trying to do a whole load of other crazy things.
If you have not been prioritising health this far, then this is something that needs to change as soon as possible. We understand that it can be tough when you are responsible for the health of not only you, but also of your children, but that is a responsibility that you took on when you became a parent. If you follow the advice that we have given you above, then you should find it easier to start getting in the right place regarding your health. We know that you can do it, and we wish you the very best of luck going forward.
