We All Need to Play!

People often ask me how I am able to do so much — run, surf, teach surf lessons and play with my boys!  My answer is simple — the more active I am, the more I am able do and not get tired.  As winter approaches, I have to work harder to find ways to stay active in the colder weather, but know that out of necessity, I need to get outdoors every day.

Have you noticed that when you sit around all day, you feel very tired?  Our bodies want to move as much as they can.  They don’t like being sedentary, and they don‘t understand the issues with changing seasons.  The days that I am not as active, I can’t seem to find the energy or patience that I have on other days when I stay in motion.  Being active is like an addiction. Once you start moving, your body will want to move even more!

Many people suffer from depression during the colder months due to shorter days, lack of sunshine and just not doing as many outdoor activities as they do in warmer weather.  I know I get pretty moody if I am stuck in the house all day!  The same applies to our children as well.  They need to be active as much as possible throughout the day for their own mental well-being and focus, too.

As a parent, it is imperative to stay active to keep up with your children and to model a healthy lifestyle for them.  My grandmother always told me, “When your children are young, they will do as you say, but when they are old, they will do as you did.”  Don’t you want to be a great example for your children?  Teach them that being active is about having fun and should be a way of life. It isn’t about doing things that you dread or don’t look forward to.  It should be a priority each and every day — and doesn’t need to be something structured.

To be active on a daily basis, you need to find things that you enjoy doing.  Find activities that you look forward to so they become a priority over other things.  In our home, when the conditions get good for surfing, nothing else matters— and we all head to the beach.  If you like to run, bike, do yoga or walk, find a time every day to do that.  Our boys know that my day doesn’t begin until I go running, and before we get going on their homeschooling, they bike, surf, run or play a sports game that they enjoy.

Children are so impressionable, it’s important to get them into an active lifestyle as young  as possible.  I used to think that letting them play as much as I did would tire them out for nap time or bedtime.  This is not the case anymore!  I could not figure out why after playing at the beach all day, they were not tired when we returned home.  A friend said that since I keep them so active, they are similar to endurance athletes, and now they can keep going longer than I can!



If you already are an active person, you know what I am saying is true.  The more active things you do, the more you are able to do.

Here are some fun ways to get yourself and your children even more active — to get more energy.

• Make being active a priority EVERY day!  Find the time and stick with it – with no excuses.
• Do activities that you enjoy doing and that are fun.  I enjoy surfing, but also like to run or bike to get my day started.
• Try to exercise in the morning.  You will have more energy throughout the day and are more likely to get it done.  Same with your children — if they can get active a little before school, they should!
• Learn to say “NO.”  You do not have to be a super busy mom to be a good parent.  It’s okay to say no to others, even your children, if it takes time away from your own needs.  It’s not being selfish. It’s you just setting a good example–to say that you, too, are important.
• Encourage your children to go outside and play…and then go with them!  Let them be kids and play freely, unstructured without set rules.  A little imaginative play is very important, and many children do not know how to play anymore.
• When your young children are trying your patience, think about what they have done that day.  Did they get some activity?  Were they able to run and expend their energy?  If not, send them out to play.
• Training schedules are important, but they are not written in stone.  Rest days are important, but may not be necessary for all activities.  If today is your required rest day, but you feel like you want to do another activity, do it!  You need to listen to your body before all else. It may not need or want a break — or conditions may be perfect for a specific sport or activity!
• If you are feeling low on energy, just get up and do something.  I guarantee you will feel better and happier once you get going.
• Cold weather makes for a little more planning and maybe some warmer clothing, but it will be well worth it.

Remember, a happy mom and/or wife makes for a happy family!  You are important and since you do so much for others, you also need to do some things just for yourself, too!  It’s not selfish to want to go outside and play! You will be teaching your children a valuable lesson.  And they will be happier and healthier as well!  So get up…get out… and get moving! Your body will thank you for it. And since you will be happier, your family will thank you for it, too!