Today, many people lead a sedentary lifestyle. If you’re stuck at work or school all day and then find yourself sitting on the couch to watch tv or relax once your day is over, it may be time to incorporate more physical activity into your life. If you’re struggling to find ways to be more active, these small changes will can lead to significant results.
Be Intentional at Work
If you work a desk job, it can be easy to get so caught up in your work that you forget to stand up and move once in a while. If you have trouble remembering to take a short break, set a notification to go off once every hour to remind you to stand up and stretch. Take short breaks to get a glass of water or walk to speak to your colleague in person instead of just sending an email.
Always Take the Stairs
Get into the habit of ditching the elevator for the stairs. This seemingly small action is a great way to incorporate more movement into your daily life. As a bonus, it will also increase your heart rate. If you take the stairs daily, you’ll also be able to see the payoff: you won’t find yourself winded at the top of the flight!
Drive Less and Walk More
Stop driving to places that you could walk or bike instead. Although it’s tempting to take the car, you should consider walking to the store instead. If you work near enough to your home, consider starting to walk or bike every day.
When you must drive places, challenge yourself by parking further away from your destination so you still do some walking. Slowly increase the distance you park from the store or other location each time. Soon you’ll hardly notice the walk!
Start Your Morning with Exercise
Set the tone for your day by beginning with some gentle stretches and quick exercises as soon as you get out of bed. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated. Even just a few jumping jacks or crunches will help you feel more awake and improve your level of fitness.
Incorporating fitness into your everyday life doesn’t have to be difficult! Taking these steps will improve your level of fitness and overall quality of life.