Tiffany Raiford
The work day is always long, even if it seems to fly by. You’re so busy and so invested in everything in your office and your work life, but also in your personal life and at home, that you can’t seem to relax. You come home all wound up and stressed, not feeling well and not taking proper care of you. It’s a trap that so many of us fall into. For me, it’s the trap of trying to balance it all; a career, my home and my family. Working from home is a lot more difficult than an office, but I would never trade it for anything. I love what I do, and I love my family, and I work very hard to ensure that there is a balance. I work hard to try not to work in the evenings when my husband is home and the kids are home from school. I work hard to try not to work on the weekends – though I fail miserably at this more often than not. I try to focus on my family when they are home and my work when they are at school and work, and when the babies are napping. And I’m not good at being perfect about this, because I always manage to forget to take care of me. Sure, we date night and travel, but I never take time for me because there is always something else that needs to be done. And more often than not, what suffers most is my workout routine.
That’s why I’ve learned what when my husband is home from work, I have to find a work out that works for me, my family and my health. And I’ve learned that there are several different workouts that make me happy at the end of a long work day. Some involve my family, some do not; but they all foster good health and set a good example for my kids. Yoga is my favorite, but there are other exercises that I really do love to do at the end of the day.
Dance it Out
The most fun I have at the end of the day is the time I spend dancing with my kids. We go crazy around the living room and throughout the house, and I never feel better than I do after 20 or 30 minutes of this. It’s a work out that you wouldn’t even believe, and it relaxes me immensely. It’s something that’s fun, so it doesn’t feel like working out. And it’s also something that’s so effective because it’s always working different muscles. What is best is that I get to listen to music I love, dance with really cute little people and bond with my family. There’s really no better way to work out than that.
A Long Walk
Sometimes the best way to work out at the end of a long day is with a relaxing walk. Do yourself a big favor and never underestimate the power of a relaxing walk in a beautiful neighborhood. For me, walking through my new neighborhood is what makes me happy. It’s my dream neighborhood we just moved into, and being able to walk by myself or with the family down the streets I dreamed so long of living on makes me feel so relaxed, happy and confident. And it’s good for my health and the health of my family. It’s one of the best ways to end my days.
Jogging
Jogging is so therapeutic. It’s relaxing and it’s hardcore. It makes me feel good. It helps to have good music playing so that I feel pumped up and motivated. And it’s something that I like to do alone, because it gives me something to look forward to. It’s time with just me, running the streets I love so much and listening to music. It’s my own quiet time, even if it’s not quiet. There are no responsibilities, no one is asking me for anything and no one can interrupt since I’m not exactly home for that to be made possible. Sometimes my husband will join me, and sometimes it’s something I have to do on the treadmill, but it’s just as good. I just have to watch for the kids, so that makes it more stressful for me.
Bike Riding
On a beautiful day, there is nothing quite like a long bike ride. It never, ever feels like a workout, which is what makes it one of the best ways to exercise. You get to take the kids out, you get to ride and ride and ride, you get to watch the sun set, the sky change colors and you get to see people come home, kids playing in yards, and you get to relax. There are few things in life as relaxing as a long bike ride that’s designed to make you feel good about your body and your health, and allow you to feel good about life in general since it doesn’t feel like you’re working out.
Swimming
This isn’t always possible any time of the year, but it is during the summer. A swim at the end of the day is the perfect way to unwind while combining relaxation with a workout. It’s a rite of passage for all people in the heat of summer. You come home, you put on your swim suit and you head to the pool. You dive, swim laps, play, enjoy and relax. One this is certain, however. You will get out of the pool not even realizing what an amazing work out you just had, and you will feel so relaxed that you will find it impossible to be in any kind of mood that’s not absolutely upbeat and happy. The best workouts are the ones that don’t feel a lot like working out, which is what makes them so amazing. If you can find one that works for you, stick with it. It can change your entire outlook on life.
Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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