Being an involved dad is often thankless, but it’s one of the most rewarding things a man can ever do. With Father’s Day at hand, we’d like to give you all a pat on the back for your hard work, and offer some non-traditional tips that will help you improve your quality of life.
1) Do Chores (Monday)
No, you probably don’t need to be told to do your chores, and it’s quite likely you’ve got a honey-do list a mile long anyway, but there are a few reasons to give yourself accolades for doing them that you may not have considered. First of all, daughters of dads who do chores have higher aspirations in life. So, as your daughter watches you check off your list (or better yet, helps you with it), you’re actually priming her for higher education and better pay throughout her life. If that’s not dance-worthy enough, you’re improving your overall health. If you’re a 150-pound man, mowing the lawn for an hour will help your burn an awesome 374 calories, according to MyFitnessPal. Working inside the house? Shape magazine says spending the same amount of time mopping is worth 153 calories, and 90 calories get zapped away in just 15 minutes if you’re scrubbing the bathtub. Of course, don’t spend your Father’s Day doing all these things. Look to the rest of the list for fun and easy ways to improve your quality of life.
2) Play!
Need an excuse to goof off? Studies have shown that when kids play with their dads, they display a wider range of emotions and get more “hyped up” than they do with their moms. This adds up to greater socialization as they age, so the kids form better friendships and healthier relationships. According to FitDay, general vigorous play that involves walking and running will help you burn 165 calories an hour too, but it doesn’t stop there. Because active play is a form of exercise, it comes packed full of other benefits, such as improved moods, reduced depression, better hormonal balance (increased testosterone), healthier sleep patterns, greater mental acuity, and more. While you get these benefits just from playing a game of tag around the house, consider some of these other family-friendly activities:
Swimming
Tennis or Table Tennis
Wii Fit
Build an Obstacle Course
Soccer
Basketball
Baseball or Catch
Walking/ Hiking/ Adventuring
3) Sleep Well
A good night of sleep is the foundation for everything, but the CDC reports one-third of all adults is not getting enough shuteye. Even if you do make sleep a priority and schedule a solid seven hours of downtime at night, sleep apnea could still be robbing you of quality, leaving you chronically fatigued. The Cleveland Clinic notes this could be the case with as much as 24% of all men; if you’re finding yourself tired, groggy, short-fused, or unalert, lack of sleep could still be the culprit. What’s more, poor sleep impacts your mood, hormones, weight, productivity, and your overall heath. Plus, driving while fatigued can be more dangerous than driving drunk, so it even has the potential to turn deadly quite easily. We know you have a lot of things to do in your day, but scheduling time for sleep is essential. If you find that’s not enough, you could be part of the population that suffers from apnea. Schedule an appointment with your physician to be tested and discuss treatment options as soon as possible.
4) Eat (Manly) Super Foods
Diet is a four-letter-word in more ways than one. If you’re like most men, you probably think eating well means dieting, and that means giving up all the good foods you love. Don’t. Joe Gould over at Men’s Fitness put together a fantastic list called “20 of the Best Superfoods for Men,” and it’s a great place to start. Load up on things like beef, almonds, eggs, blueberries, and of course, water, before indulging in your other favorites. You won’t feel like you’re giving up what you love and your body will get the fuel it needs as a primary focus.
5) Get Regular Checkups and Take All Prescriptions
Your doctor should be your partner in wellness, not just someone you see when you’re sick or the guy who scolds you over what you’re doing wrong. Make sure you find the right match for you, and work together to combat any issues you have before they become problems that hurt your quality of life. If the cost of prescriptions or medical equipment is a concern to you, sign up for your free RefillWise prescription discount card on our website or by texting JOIN to 22822.
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