If you’ve been meaning to build more physical activity into your every day life but think it will take up too much time, you’re going about it all wrong. An all or nothing approach is quite foolish when it comes to your health. It simply allows you to put off what you know you need to do—the perfect scapegoat.
And anyway, this is a glorious time of the year to bump exercise up to the top of your priority list. With the days getting longer and warmer, I always have more energy for positive changes. I’m guessing all of us can relate to that, at least a little bit.
For all you dive-right-in-with-both-feet folks, pick your activity and get going. You’ll be glad you did.
Or are you more into baby steps? No shame in that. Use your imagination and create opportunities to move more every day, throughout the day. Here are a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing.
Park further away. Whether you’re going to your job or to the grocery store, add some steps to your daily total by parking twice as far away as you normally do. If you’re grocery shopping, park next to the cart corral that’s farthest from the front door.
Walk or ride your bike when you can. Whenever it’s reasonable, either walk or ride your bike to take care of errands. It’s a great way to pull out your multitasking skills—you take care of exercising while crossing other things off of your to-do list.
Skip the elevator. If stairs are an option to get where you’re going, take them. It doesn’t matter where you’re at. And if it involves several flights, perfect—you’ll get a little cardio in for the day too.
Take the long route. Whether you need to fill up your water bottle or use the restroom at work, take the long way. Chances are good you do both of these things several times a day, so make the most of it.
You may be thinking that these changes won’t make that much of a difference. But when we bring more activity into our daily life, it all adds up. Plus, the little steps encourage us to take bigger steps that can lead to a substantial impact on our health.
Where can you make time for exercise in your every day?
Image from iStock/diego_cervo.
Paula Widish, author of Trophia: Simple Steps to Everyday Self-Health, is a freelance writer and self-healther. She loves nothing more than sharing tidbits of information she discovers with others. (Actually, she loves her family more than that—and probably bacon too.) Paula has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Public Relations and is a Certified Professional Life Coach through International Coach Academy.
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