Although staying active benefits physical and mental health, today’s digital world makes it too easy to be sedentary. With the conveniences of fast food delivery and remote school or work, it’s tempting to spend less time on our feet and more time looking at our phones and computer screens.
That’s why it’s even more important to make a conscious effort to get up and move to stay healthy in today’s world – no matter how old you are.
Teens that begin to develop healthy habits during their formative years are more likely to lead healthy lifestyles when they become adults. A good workout program for teens should include mobility, cardio, and strength-building activities.
Finding the Right Exercise for Your Teen
Finding an exercise your teen will enjoy doing is the easiest way to help them become more active and set them up for success.
Here are five questions to ask your teenager to determine what exercise activities they will enjoy.
Can You Make It into a Game?
Because teenagers are still children at heart, the exercise potential for play is still applicable. In fact, making exercise fun works for adults, too. To make exercising fun, try to make it into a game.
Two examples of fun activities a teen can do to stay active are playing tag with a sibling in the yard or recreating beloved pe games like dodge ball or nine square at home with friends. If you can make exercise into a game and not a chore, your teen is more likely to stick with it.
Do You Like Being Indoors or Outdoors?
If your teen enjoys being outdoors, they will probably not enjoy being trapped inside to do exercise. More appropriate activities for outdoorsy teenagers are hiking, tennis, volleyball, baseball, etc.
On the other hand, if your teen prefers to stay indoors, they may enjoy circuit training, lifting weights, and using exercise machines at the gym.
Do You Enjoy Exercising With Others?
The same activity done in different social settings can make a world of difference to your teen. If your teenager loves going on group bike rides with friends or doing spin classes, they may be more motivated when exercising with others.
Conversely, suppose your teenager is more of a loner. In that case, they may prefer to go bike riding by themselves or do their solo exercise routine at home. Encouraging them to find out whether they like social exercise or solo activities can make getting fit more rewarding.
Can You Multitask?
If your teen needs to listen to recorded study modules or lectures, perhaps they can get their studying done while getting some exercise. If your teen is able to multitask, they may be able to listen to study material with earphones while taking a walk around the block.
On the other hand, your teen may prefer to focus on one task at a time. In that case, try to persuade them to participate in recreational exercise activities instead of sedentary ones – for instance, going to the ice rink or playing paintball with friends instead of going to the movies.