We know you’re busy. Work and family
place a lot of demands on you. It doesn’t seem that there’s any time to be
active. But there is. It’s like a great bargain; you just have to know where
to look for it. That’s what these tips will help you do—find the time
during the day when you can be active. If you stumble, don’t worry and don’t
quit. Just get back on track.
The same creativity and planning you use
in other areas of your life will come in handy when you’re finding ways to
make your life more active. Begin by being ready for activity wherever you
are. Buy comfortable clothes you can move around in. Keep some in your car.
Keep a pair of comfortable walking or running shoes in your car and office.
It’s about time. It’s about time.
They don’t mean the same thing, do they? But they are meaningful when we’re
talking about physical activity. There are little things you can do to
increase your weekly moderate intensity physical activity. Make
physical activity part of your daily commute. Park further from work or get
off the train one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way.
Ever misplace your keys? You look
everywhere and still can’t find them. But when you do finally find them,
they were right in front of you the whole time. Just like physical activity
at work. It’s right in front of you. Take the stairs instead of the
elevator. Walk down the hall instead of using the phone or E-mail. Take a walk
during a morning or afternoon break. Ask a friend to go with you.
"What are you doing for
lunch?" Pretty common question. Take advantage of these lunchtime
activity tips. It’ll bring a whole new meaning when you answer,
"The usual." Take a walk around the block during part of your lunch
hour. Pick some dining spots 10 to 15 minutes away and walk to and from lunch.
Everyone talks about work habits.
What about after-work habits? Sneak a brief walk in after work but before you
get home. This way you are physically active before you must tend to dinner
and other evening obligations. Play with the kids. Everybody wins. If you find
it too difficult to be active after work, try it before work. A brief
walk is a great way to start off the day. Take the dog.
For a lot of people, weekends and days
off seem to fly by. There’s supposed to be all this free time, but we know
your obligations don’t end just because you’re not at work. What to do?
Incorporate physical activity into your weekend and day off activities.
Walk up and down the sidelines at your child’s baseball or soccer practices
and games. Join a weekend line dancing or ballroom dancing group. Energize
your weekends:
- Go to the park or zoo with your
family.
- Walk while doing errands.
- Make a Saturday morning walk a family
habit.
- Or take a family walk after church,
mosque, or synagogue.
Remember how physical cleaning the
kitchen can be? Do it again soon. And get the rest of the house while you’re
at it. You don’t have to do the whole house at once, but active indoor
chores provide a great opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. You
get moderate intensity physical activity and the house gets clean. Do indoor
chores that let you move your arms and legs such as window washing, tub
scrubbing, or reorganizing your closet.
Remember when your mother would tell you
to go play outside because it was a lovely day? Listen to her. Don’t stay
cooped up inside. It’s gorgeous out there! Do some active outdoor chores.
Mow the grass or wash the car, and do the same for a neighbor who may be
in need. Spruce up your garden or plant a new one. Start out slowly at first
until staying active for 30 to 45 minutes becomes easy. Call your mother and
thank her.
