A family who exercises together, stays together. That’s the saying, isn’t it? Or at least it should be something like that. But, easier said than done, right? With everyone on different school, college and work schedules, sleep patterns and exercise enthusiasm levels, it can feel like an impossible task to get everyone on board, at the same time, for the same thing. 

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Exercising as a family can be a really bonding experience, especially now that life is back to a level of normality after we all spent more time together during the pandemic lockdowns. We’re now spending more time apart again, so exercise could be the glue your family needs to get back to spending time as a unit again. 

Here’s our top tips for getting everyone together for an exercise session.

1. Use incentives (read: bribery) - not ideal, we know, but who hasn’t used some kind of bribery to incentivise their kids to do something? The promise of a family day out to the seaside or local fun park could be enough to whip them all into action. 
2. Exercise is fun, so avoid using language around young children that you’re dreading exercise and instead talk about how amazing it makes you feel afterwards. This will help to instil in them a healthy attitude towards movement and being active. 
3. Talking of fun, exercise doesn’t have to be exercise in the traditional sense - play can be incorporated into exercise. Try hide and seek in the park, with a bit of running involved between hides or take a frisbee to the park and play a high energy game or catch. If you have a dog, even better, get your pup involved too. Both exercise and laughter raise our feel good endorphins, that can also help to bond us together in shared, fun, happy experiences. 
4. Keeping a family scorecard can help to add in some friendly, healthy competitiveness. A chalkboard in the kitchen of high scores can be a great incentive to go all out together. Give points to the fastest run to the next tree or how many star jumps you could all manage in one minute.
5. You don’t even need to mention the word “exercise” if you think this might get your family all running (or slow ambling) to the hills. Instead, get into the habit of walking or cycling to places (when time permits, of course) and you’ll soon be racking up the steps and miles. 
6. Make household chores fun by adding in movement - dancing with the duster and wiggling whilst doing the washing up can turn dull chores into fun ones - even if you’re just an onlooker. On that note, why not have a family disco this Saturday night? Get some snacks, turn up the music and hold a dance off - the winner gets Sunday morning breakfast in bed. We’re in, and don’t forget to show us your pics on the OYG Facebook Community page!