Thank you to The American Heart Association for sponsoring this post and for providing support and care for the hearts of our community and especially for moms and their children.
Taking time for yourself takes time.
How often do you make time for yourself? According to The American Heart Association, improving your heart and mental health only takes 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
Regular physical activity improves your quality of life, helps you sleep, and builds stronger bones – plus it decreases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Breaking it down, that’s 30 minutes a day or ten, 15 minute sessions a week.
Completely doable!
So what does 30 minutes a day look like for a busy mom?
- It’s grabbing the kids and going for a walk instead of scrolling through social media or checking emails when you’re not at work. Those things can wait, your heart health can’t!
- Need to run errands? Perfect! Park farther from the entrance when running to the store, or pledge to park in the spot furthest from the door at work (or heaven forbid, the gym!) so you’re walking more by default.
- Take a trip to the zoo and make it your goal to start at the back and work your way forward.
- Maybe you have 15 minutes while the little ones are napping and 15 minutes after they go to bed. Instead of finding the comfy spot on the couch and catching up on Netflix, catch up on your favorite show while moving. A little cardio is good for the heart and we pass no judgement on mindless TV.
- Need a little retail therapy? Window shopping is a great way to get your steps in. Make it fun by setting a reward, so once you’ve achieved two or more weeks of 150 minutes of physical activity, treat yourself to something you’ve eyed while window shopping.
It’s not all or nothing, it’s step-by-step. Remember, active parents raise active children. Set an example and make fitness a priority for you and your family.
Start your new goal: Wednesday, April 6th.
Join us as we lace up and move on National Walking Day, Wednesday, April 6th. WHY WALK? Because “Life is Why”. Cardiovascular disease is our No. 1 cause of death, claiming the lives of over 1 in 3 individuals each year. We need your help to make a difference in the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier lives free from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. We want to work together to enable moms like you to enjoy more of life’s precious moments with your family and friends.
Starting Wednesday, April 6th we will schedule 30 minutes for ourselves, five times a week. Consider this the gentle nudge to schedule time for yourself and not feel guilty about it; after all, taking care of yourself is the first step to helping others!
You can get active in lots of ways – walking is one of the easiest “first steps” you can take improve your health. It’s also one of the safest, least expensive, and most sustainable forms of exercise.
Grab your walking shoes and join us for some coffee and a walk on Wednesday, April 6th! We will walk around the pond at the Wichita Marriott (9100 Corporate Hills Drive). Parking is available in the northwest lot, and strollers are welcome!
You’ve made the commitment…now what?
After our kick-off event on April 6th, you’re also invited to join us Saturday morning, June 18th at the annual Wichita Heart Walk.
The Heart Walk and F.A.S.T 5K is not just another walk, it’s a family-friendly environment where your kiddos are welcome. Make it your goal to have a 3-mile family walk or participate in the F.A.S.T 5K. Strollers are welcome and the reward is one your whole family will enjoy.
How can you help? It’s easy!
Join one our Heart Walk teams! You can join The Wichita Moms Blog Team or you can become a Team Captain for your own team. Interested in running? Runners can sign up for the F.A.S.T 5K for $35 (registration fee increases on June 1st, so sign up today!).
By joining a team and fundraising, you’re saving lives. Your donations make a difference and help our community become a healthier place to live! Although there is no registration fee to join a walking team, we do encourage you to make a donation and ask your friends to join you, too. The lifesaving work of the American Heart Association is only possible because of generous donors.
We want everyone to live a longer, healthier life, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Heart disease knows no age, race or gender. We want to be around for more of life’s special moments, but to do that we have to be healthy in mind, body and spirit.
For more information and to participate please visit www.WichitaHeartWalk.org.
Want more information on getting active as a family? Check out www.heart.org/healthierkids
