12 Easy Ways to Work Walking into School Days
Summer can be a hectic time of year. It seems like all of summer break is spent managing summer camp schedules, planning playdates and vacations, handing out snacks, and arranging all kinds of fun activities to keep the kids busy.
Once the school year starts back up again, it’s just a different kind of chaos. While kids are back in school during the day, it sometimes feels like managing school emails and checking learning apps and filling out forms is a full-time job. Add in school drop-off and pick-up lines, practice schedules, extracurricular activities, and the constant flood of birthday parties and all of the other things you’ve got to arrange and schedule and work around, and you’ve got even more stress and busyness. So when are you supposed to find time to take care of yourself?
It’s important to take care of yourself—even during the hectic seasons. And, fortunately, walking is a great way to support both your physical and your mental health. It doesn’t take a whole lot of time. It doesn’t take a whole lot of gear or preparation. You can do it wherever you are, whenever you have a few minutes to spare. And you can find ways to work it into your school-year schedule!
Here are some ideas for fitting walks into busy school days:
1) Bus Stop Blitz
My daughter always loved to get to the bus stop early, so she could talk with her friends. So you can set out to the bus stop a few minutes early each morning and take an extra walk around the block—or, if the kids don’t want to hang out at the bus stop with their friends, they can walk with you until the bus arrives.
2) Walk and Talk
Calling to catch up with a friend? Need to make a work call? Get up and walk while you’re talking! Whether you’re walking around the block, on your favorite trail, or just getting steps around the house, it all counts!
3) After-Dinner Updates
After you finish dinner, pack up the family for a short walk. Not only is it a great way to aid in digestion after a meal, but it’s also a great way to catch up on everyone’s day while winding down.
4) Practice Time Walks
If your kids are in sports or other extracurricular activities, you might spend a lot of time waiting during practices. Take that extra time for yourself! Keep your walking shoes in the car, and spend the time walking around the park, the parking lot, or a nearby neighborhood while you wait.
5) Brain Breaks
Sometimes homework gets to be too much, and the kids just need to step away for a few minutes. Take that time to go for a walk around the block or even around the yard. The fresh air will help them—and you can get some extra steps in the process.
6) Mom-Friend Time
Connect with another mom who’s in need of some extra exercise and fresh air and plan regular walks together—whether it’s after school drop-off in the morning or during soccer practice. If you’ve got a walking buddy who’s committed to regular walk-and-talk sessions, you’ll be more likely to stay consistent.
7) Park & Walk
Heading out to work…or to grab groceries…or to stop by the school? Don’t grab the closest parking spot. Find something a little farther away, and get a few extra steps. It won’t take a whole lot of extra time, and it may not seem like a big deal, but those extra steps add up!
8) Start the Day Off Right
When you’re scrambling to gather homework and feed everyone breakfast and pack lunches and get everyone out the door on time, mornings can feel way to frantic. Instead of diving right into the chaos, give yourself just a few minutes in the morning to go for a short, mind-clearing walk. Even if you’re not a morning person (guilty as charged), you might not be too upset about setting the alarm just 15 minutes earlier, so you can catch your breath and go for a quick walk before the chaos begins.
9) Go on a Weekend Adventure
It’s so easy to fill our weekends with activities and chores—and, before you know it, the weekend is over and you’ve barely seen your family outside the occasional car ride to the next thing on your schedule. So take some time each weekend to go on a mini adventure with your family—whether it’s exploring a new park, wandering through the city streets, or checking out a farmer’s market or festival. Not only will you be spending quality time with your family, but you’ll all get some steps in the process.
10) Lunch Break Walks
Instead of spending your lunch break brainlessly scrolling through your phone, head outside for a short, 15-minute walk.
11) Walk Through Your To-Do List
You know all of those little tasks that you need to check off your to-do list? Things like making a grocery list…or scheduling an appointment…or entering dates or reminders into your phone? Don’t just sit there—get up and walk while you’re getting things done. Talk about productivity…!
12) Walking Playdates
Years ago, before she moved out of state, my friend Kate and I used to plan regular Coffee Mom Walks. We’d pick up coffees and go to a small park, where our kids could play together while we walked on the short path that looped around the park. So while our kids got play time together, we got to walk and talk together, too. It was the perfect way to connect and get some steps, too.
Right now, your day-to-day life may feel way too busy to add something new. But if you want to start walking more, you absolutely can—even during those busy school days! Try a few of these ideas, and you’ll be upping your step count in no time!
How do you fit walking into your busy school year routine?
