Moving Towards Wellness Together: The Benefits of Physical Activity

Posted by Sarah Baum on September 13, 2023

I love being outside and active during summer! The weather is energizing, the days are long, and life slows down. It feels simpler to incorporate physical movement into my day. I’ve been walking to work, cycling with friends, and I’ve finally found the motivation to do my tedious physiotherapy exercises. Have you experienced the positive effects of movement this summer?

Physical activity is vital to our wellbeing. Studies show that it can boost resilience by preventing anxiety and depression, improve cognitive ability and academic performance, increase short and long-term mood, and strengthen self-confidence and self-esteem. These gains benefit you and anyone in your circle of connection. However, you’re not alone if you find it difficult to prioritize.

Finding the motivation and time to exercise while encouraging your teen to do the same can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be! You don’t need to be a marathon runner or spend endless hours exercising weekly. Even 15 minutes of light exercise each day can improve your mental health. Start small and build slowly. Walking and light stretching are good ways to begin. Incorporating physical activity into your life needs to be and feel manageable; it has to work for your lifestyle and family culture.

Quick tips for bringing physical activity into your family life:

Be Present and Attentive: Show interest in your teen’s chosen activities, offer support and be present during shared activities. Offer comfort and encouragement for their efforts and achievements. Be loud and encouraging if that’s what your teen needs or participate fully and quietly if that strategy is more successful!

Foster Autonomy and Choice: Encourage your teen to explore different physical activities and choose what resonates with them. Allow them to have a say in the selection process, empowering them to take ownership of their well-being. Help them find hobbies they genuinely enjoy, like dancing, riding bikes, martial arts, or yoga. The goal is to find something they want to do so that they are more likely to stick with it.

Create Rituals and Traditions: Engaging in physical activities and establishing routines as a family can promote emotional security by providing stability, predictability, and shared experiences. How about attending a weekly yoga class with your teen, taking an after-dinner walk, or going on a monthly family hike?

Set Realistic Expectations: Every teen has different preferences, abilities, and limitations regarding physical activity. Communicate realistic expectations based on your teen’s uniqueness and encourage them to focus on personal effort and progress rather than comparison with others. A healthy and positive relationship with physical activity helps set the stage for better routines in adulthood and beyond. Maintaining realistic expectations of your teen can help your teen to feel seen and understood.

Flexibility and Adaptability: Remember that teens have busy lives with academic, extracurricular, and social commitments. Encourage your teen to find opportunities that fit their schedule, like biking to school or taking the dog for a walk. Being flexible and adaptable will help your teen sustain their routine. Focus the goal on movement rather than being rigid about the type of activity and the length of time. Even small efforts can significantly impact your teen and their sense of well-being.

Leading by Example: Remember that regular physical activity benefits you too! It can improve your capacity to navigate daily life: More physical movement can contribute to you having less stress and more energy for life’s challenges. When your teen observes that you prioritize physical activity in your own life, they are more likely to follow your lead and develop similar habits. Leading by example helps set a positive tone for your family, and your teen will feel more supported to participate. Physical activity can enhance everyone’s well-being, which can result in more opportunities to strengthen your bond with your teen or to amplify your family’s sense of connection.

Physical activity is one of the most significant pillars of mental health and wellbeing. Although it may look different for each of us, it is important for all of us. There’s no perfect exercise or activity or time to start. The key is to try, experiment with giving it a shot. Try moving a little more during your day, start small, and work towards building your endurance and your strength. It is inevitable that with consistent effort will come noticeable shifts, and these positive changes may have a critical impact on you, your teen and your family life. Now get going!