How To Be More Active

An object at rest likes to stay at rest, and when you add in a comfortable couch and just one more episode of that show you've been watching, sometimes that rest is just a little too restful. We all want to be more active, but taking the first step is something that is all too easy to put off 'till tomorrow. There are so many health benefits to adding in just thirty minutes per day of exercise, so why is it so hard to do? Here's three quick and easy tips to boost your activity levels so that your future self will thank you.

Tip #1: Take the long way home. Elevator, or stairs? If you're going to the thirty-first floor, nobody will judge you at all for taking the elevator. But adding in a few flights of stairs can be a great way to get some extra steps in! And if mobility is a challenge, and stairs simply aren't an option, there's plenty of things you can do for a smashing upper-body workout instead. While you're watching that next episode, why not use some light hand weights (or even soup cans) to lift as you watch?

Tip #2: Shake it up, baby! Exercise doesn't feel like exercise when there's music involved. Dance it out! Even a five-minute dance party to your favorite rockin' tunes counts as activity. Put your headphones on, crank up the tunes (to a reasonable, ear-safe level, of course!) and get your groove on!

Tip: #3: With a little help from my friends... A walking buddy might just be the difference between a sad trudge up and down the block and a chatter-filled stroll. Find a friend who will go with you, and the time will go by so much quicker! However, if your walk is your evening me-time, then a virtual check-in with a friend counts, too.

Every step counts. Finding easy ways to bring joy back into your daily activity makes exercise easy, and joyful habits are so much easier to stick with. Get out there, get dancing, and enjoy your active, movement-filled life, in whatever form works best for you!