52 Weeks of Happier Homeschooling Week 4: Start a Family Walking Habit
By this point, we all know that a regular walking habit is good for our health, but did you know a walking routine can also give your homeschool a happiness boost? For maximum health benefits, the American Heart Association recommends a 30-minute walk five days a week, but even a daily stroll around the block can have a positive impact on your homeschool.
Getting outside doesn’t just get you moving. It also helps boost your energy levels, ups your daily vitamin D intake, and can be an effective mood booster. You can maximize those benefits by making them work for your homeschool: Maybe a first-thing-breakfast walk would help get your slow-to-start homeschool days off on a better foot, or perhaps planning a post-tough day stroll could help your clan mentally reset for a better afternoon. If you’re a fan of multitasking, you could use your walking time to add to your nature journals, brush up on your mapping skills, or even recite your favorite poetry. You can certainly skip your walk when the weather’s yucky, but don’t discount the pleasures of rainy day walk when it’s warm and not stormy.
As walking becomes a family habit, you may find that short tempers grow a longer fuse, that you’re less exhausted at the end of your homeschool day, and that you’re actually looking forward to putting on your walking shoes every day.
