Having an outdoor lifestyle can be difficult when you have a family. This is especially so while you are raising kids and managing pets at the same time. However, it is a strong belief that pets and kids play an important role in balancing your responsibilities and your love for the outdoors. Things like rain, fresh air, sunshine, and exercise are extremely crucial to the overall well-being of your child and pet. It is not healthy for your children to constantly play with electronic devices all day long. Here is a comprehensive set of tips to help you keep up with your active way of life while spending time with your family and pets outdoors.

Make it a routine
Make it a routine to partake in outdoor activities with them. This helps them develop an affinity for an outdoor lifestyle. This could involve the simplest of activities, like walking for an hour or for 15 minutes, jogging, and strolling to get some fresh morning air. You can even take a frisbee and play fetch with your dog. To make sure this turns into a habit, the most important thing is to start doing it rather than focusing on the amount of time spent. Once it becomes part of their everyday life, a good rhythm for a healthy life is set.

Set periodic goals
Do not go all out on your first day. Make sure to set an achievable goal that will not only motivate you but also your kids and pets to take healthy steps away from the daily routine and monotony in life. Here are some tips to help you out:

• Increase the amount of time you walk or undergo any other activity every week
• Increase the distance walked. Try measuring the steps using smartphone apps. This can help encourage and motivate you.
• Curate a list of places like playgrounds and dog-parks to visit and keep crossing them off the list one by one.
• In order to track progress, create a simple chart. It is a good way to create a habit, and it is an interesting way to create enthusiasm in your child.

Walk instead of drive
While it might need a bit more planning, coordination, and practice, always be on the lookout for chances that allow you to get to places by foot rather than by car. Another good option apart from walking is biking. Even though biking is a bit of work and time-consuming, it is as beneficial as walking. Chores like dropping your kid off to school can be done on foot, except if the school is really far away. You can also take your dog on a walk whenever you need to drop by the grocery store.

Family and pet-friendly locations
Spend some time to look-up and note down places in your locality that can potentially be fun and interesting for both kids and pets. For example, numerous dog-parks are equipped with features that children enjoy, like waterfronts, trails, and playgrounds. Make sure to visit these places and maintain the perfect balance between your family and your passion for the outdoors.

Many studies have shown that an active and playful life outdoors can help improve your kid’s and pet’s health, memory retention, thinking skills, and happiness.