Self Care for Parents Part Three: Exercise Motivation
- Joanne Atkinson
- Apr 20, 2024
- 4 min read
If you are an avid exerciser then you probably don’t need this article for inspiration. However if you are like me, then learning more about the positive effects of exercise on brain and mood has been an absolute game changer for my motivation levels.
I will be honest. I am not a person who naturally enjoys exercise. I’ve never experienced an “exercise high” and I really don’t enjoy being out of breath. I also don’t care enough about how I look for that to be a motivating factor.
About a year ago I listened to a podcast with neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki talking about her book “Healthy Brain, Happy Life”. Her research highlights a range of surprising (to me at least!) benefits of physical activity, from improving cognitive function, to enhancing mood and reducing stress, to actually improving brain health.
The Effect on Brain Health
One of the most fascinating aspects of Suzuki’s research is the impact of exercise on the brain’s plasticity—the brain’s ability to change and adapt. Physical activity has been shown to increase the formation of new neurons, strengthen neural connections, and enhance overall brain health. By engaging in regular exercise, we can harness the brain’s remarkable ability to rewire itself, leading to improved cognitive function and a healthier, more resilient brain.
A lot of parents around my own age are juggling the pressure not only of young children and work, but of aging parents. For me this life shift has increased my thinking around the impact of aging and my own future. To understand that exercise is not only an investment in our physical health but in our brain health is a huge motivator for me.
The Effect on Attention and Focus:
Suzuki’s book emphasizes the positive influence of exercise on cognitive functioning. Engaging in regular physical activity has been shown to enhance memory, attention, focus and overall cognitive performance. Exercise stimulates the release of growth factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promote the growth and survival of brain cells. This, in turn, leads to improved neural connections and enhanced cognitive abilities.
By incorporating exercise into our lives, we can unlock the potential for sharper thinking, increased creativity, and improved problem-solving skills.
As busy parents trying to juggle kids, work, and other responsibilities being able to be more focused and efficient during work time has huge benefits. For me knowing that exercise is going to help me to focus is a much greater motivator than losing a few lbs.
The Mood-Enhancing Effects
Modern life is stressful whether you are a parent or not, but parenting brings another huge demand into the mix. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and stop prioritising your own needs.
In addition, low mood is related to low energy and low motivation so getting the drive to exercise when you are feeling low and overwhelmed can be tough.
BUT:
Exercise has a profound impact on our emotional well-being. Suzuki’s research highlights the role of exercise in boosting mood and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Engaging in physical activity triggers the release of endorphins, our brain’s natural “feel-good” chemicals. These endorphins act as natural mood lifters, promoting feelings of happiness and reducing stress and anxiety.
Incorporating regular exercise into our routine can provide an empowering and natural way to enhance our overall emotional well-being.
Physical activity also stimulates the release of hormones, such as norepinephrine, which help regulate the body’s stress response. In addition, regular exercise promotes relaxation and improves sleep quality, both of which contribute to stress reduction. In short exercising more will support us to effectively manage stress, leading to improved mental resilience and a greater sense of calm.
If we understand these positive benefits better then this can increase motivation to make sure we make time to exercise, particularly when we notice signs of anxiety, stress and low mood.
So What Can You Do About It?
It can be difficult to fit exercise in. That isn't going to change, maybe you have a great routine during the school terms when life is more routine but during school holidays it all goes wrong. Or maybe you struggle to find a way to fit it in at any time. In this case one idea is to be more creative and get the kids involved. Here’s some ideas:
YouTube is your friend – “Just Dance” videos are a great way of getting active with the kids, for something more sedate try “Cosmic Kids Yoga” or take yourself back into the early days of lockdown and revisit Joe Wicks!
Have a dance party – for an extra treat, hire yourself some silent disco headphones. So much fun, particularly if you are a bit self-conscious.
Combine all the points of my previous self-care posts and get out for a long walk with the kids and a group of friends. The kids will have more fun if they are with other children and you get the benefits of being outside and investing in your relationships.
If you are going to soft-play, to a trampoline or inflatable park don’t sit in the café, book yourself in too. It’s a great opportunity to let yourself go and really connect with your kids on their level.
I hope that this post has given some of you some motivation to make some changes. Becoming more physically active really does have so many important benefits for your overall health and wellbeing and if you can combine this with spending more time outdoors the benefits increase even further.
Jo Atkinson – NLP4kids Therapist and Parenting Coach
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