School is back in session, fall is finally showing up in our neck of the woods, and the pace of life rarely seems to slow. Before we know it, the holidays will be upon us. Even when our schedules are packed, we try to spend time together. But how do we manage to stay active as a family when we don’t have much time?

8 Tips to Staying Active as a Family When Time is Short

1. Keep it short

If time is short, it’s not the time to try to knock out a 10 mile hike. Opt instead for a shorter scenic hike, a short hike to a waterfall, or even a loop through or around a park.

2. Stay local

You may have heard about a great trail a couple hours away that you really want to explore (maybe at a historical home?). However, if you don’t have a lot of time, stick to the closer trails for now and save that new trail for when you have a bit more time.

3. Use the time you have

Have a few minutes while dinner is in the oven? Do a relay race around your backyard. Have the kiddos come up with the activities for each leg- the crazier the better, especially if everyone participates! Walk the dog  around your neighborhood before bed as a family. Make it a group activity instead of just one parent or child’s responsibility.

4. Try new things

Do you usually go hiking as a family? Try kicking a soccer ball around your back yard as a family for a few minutes. Is soccer or baseball your usual activity? Try a family hike at your local park (here’s some tips for starting a family hiking habit).

5. Be creative

Right up there with trying new things, is being creative with those activities. Haven’t played frisbee since your college years? Introduce your children to frisbee, disc golf, or ultimate frisbee. You may not work up a sweat playing croquet, horseshoes, or ladder ball, but they do encourage family togetherness outside.

6. Be flexible

If the guided tour at the local nature preserve just won’t fit in your schedule, find out if there’s a self-guided tour you can do on your own time. If there’s no self-guided tour available, take the family and explore the preserve on your own. Find ways to fit in those activities you want to do, even if it’s not quite how you had hoped.

7. Don’t let changes in the weather derail you

If rain cancels outdoor sports, head to a roller rink and have some retro fun as a family. No roller rink nearby? Head for an indoor trampoline park instead. If unexpected snow puts a crimp in your plans, enjoy a snowball fight or build a snowman (or two!) with your kiddos. If it’s so hot that you just want to stay inside with the AC (umm, been there, done that, every summer here in Virginia), get the sprinkler out, dig out the water guns and have a family water fight.

8. Keep it fun

Whatever you do, have fun doing it. Your kids may not remember the specifics of everything you do, but they’ll remember if they had fun.

How do you stay active when you don’t have much time?