By Paige Johnson, photo Pixabay
The percentage of physically active US citizens reached an all-time low in 2014. According to the Physical Activity Council’s report, 83 million out of 292 million Americans over 6 years of age are living a sedentary lifestyle. It is very important for you to exercise at least for 30 minutes every day. Lack of physical activity has been linked to the development of high blood pressure and coronary heart diseases. It can even lead to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
Considering the busy lives that we lead nowadays, it can be difficult to allocate some time for exercises. If you do not have time to go to the gym or even exercise at home, here are a few simple ways to be physically active in your daily life.
- Take up gardening as a hobby
Though it may not sound like it, gardening is a wholesome and simple way to increase your physical activity. Whether you are raking leaves, pulling weeds, or mowing the lawn, you will be exercising a number of your muscle groups. Just do it once and you will realize that gardening can actually be physically tiring! An added bonus of using this tactic is that it gets you out of your home and lets you enjoy some fresh air.
- Take a walk after dinner
Are you feeling bloated after that sumptuous heavy dinner? Well, decide to go for a walk with your family. Not only does it help in digesting the food, it can also count as a physical activity. Even though walking is a simple and easy task, it has been known to improve your overall health. Research has also shown that walking can reduce your feelings of anger and hostility, and enhance your mood. What’s more, walking with your family after dinner also gives you more time to spend with them.
- Choose stairs over elevators whenever possible
Whether you want to go upstairs or downstairs, use stairs whenever you can. Climbing stairs is a form of exercise that you can incorporate very easily in your daily life. If you cannot climb the four floors of your office or residence, climb the first two and then take the elevator. Doing this daily ensures that you are keeping yourself physically activity, which in turn means that you are consciously taking care of your health.
- Include home cleaning in your to-do list
Instead of hiring help to clean your home regularly, do it yourself. Plan your days off work in a way that you have enough time to enjoy with your family, and do some cleaning. Though it is difficult to believe that cleaning is a good workout, it is. The amount of stretching, walking, and lifting that you will do when you are cleaning your home will take care of your recommended daily 30 minutes of physical activity.
- Utilize an active form of transportation
When you are travelling to your work, use an active form of transportation such as walking or biking instead of driving. Even though these modes of transport may take longer to reach your destination, they are more economical. Walking or biking to and from work will also ensure that you are physically active.
- Take advantage of a fitness tracker
There are a number of fitness trackers in the market today that measure the steps that you take daily. This is a perfect way to motivate yourself as well as to keep a track of your physical activity. Set the goal of walking at least 10,000 steps every day.
Use these six ways to increase your physical activity and you will not have to worry about the harmful effects of a sedentary lifestyle.
Paige Johnson considers herself to be a fitness nerd. She is dedicated to providing information on living a lifestyle that’s healthy for both our bodies and our planet.
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