How to keep motivated over Christmas
Summer is here. With decadent food beckoning and laying on the beach a top priority, Cigna Round the Bays can seem far away. But it pays not to forget your training or you could regret being at that start-line under trained.
Here are four tips to keep you and the kids motivated over Christmas:
1. Be mindful to move every day. Get outdoors and do something physical. Walk to a local park, go cycling, practice some ball skills or play football or cricket. All these things will get the whole family moving, puffing and smiling – and having fun.
2. Set a daily reminder on your phone to make sure you do something physical. If you have a smart watch, use that to reach a target number of steps daily. I love doing my exercise in the morning and then it’s done. That way, I don’t feel guilty when I’m sitting on the beach later. But just fit in exercise when it fits in with your family.
3. Write up the family’s goals each week and tick them off. It could be three lots of exercise for the kids, and two or three walks or runs for the adults. Let the kids choose their activities – so they are more inspired to do them. At the end of each week have a reward for those who achieved their target. The reward doesn’t need to be big or expensive. The little ones might look forward to choosing a cool sticker or stamp. I sometimes reward my older kids with extra time on their digital devices. Remember life is all about balance.
4. Get the kids to write a diary each week. They could write a line, or draw a picture, about their training that week and what they enjoyed or achieved. This could help them to keep focused.
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Column by Rachel Grunwell,