Exercise, like saving money conjures images of defeat to many. It brings back memories of treadmills, sportswear and running shoes gathering dust in our closets and home gyms. Exercise and saving money is the top two items in every New Year Resolution. It is also the first to fly out the window before Valentine’s Day. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
How can one stay fit in the midst of such serial defeat in the battlefield of exercise?
For many that cannot seem to fit exercise into their daily routine, the answer is simple – build exercise into your daily routine. Move more rather than stay in one place all day. Modern technology has rendered us more sedentary. Rather than go over to have a word with our neighbour, we chat via social media. Rather than get up and switch off the TV or open the curtain, we have our beloved remote control. Rather than speak to the stranger at the gate, we use the intercom. We move less and less, with the result being our waistlines grows wider and wider. We simply have to move more.
It is recommended that we move about 10,000 steps a day. That is a good number to aim at. It reminds me of a funny advert on TV about a hardworking guy that strapped his pedometer to his dog. His dog did the 10k a day step for him while he sat at his desk.
We need to intentionally move. Get off that chair or sofa and get moving.
Here are a few tips below. You can add yours in the comment section also.
- Stop fighting for the closest parking spot. Park further down and walk to your destination. Incidentally the farther away you park, the more parking spaces you find available.
- Leave your car at home and run errands to places in the neighbourhood on foot.
- Start gardening as a hobby. That will force you to move outdoors. Use hoses and watering cans rather than automatic sprinklers to water your plans. You get to move more and it works out cheaper also.
- If you live in the suburbs, you can grow your own food, including animals. Feeding the animals will force you to feed them daily, getting you moving in the process
- Upgrade your office table to an adjustable height model. This allows you to work on your computer while standing. This allows you to alternate between sitting and standing. You can also exercise and do some stretches while working.
- Install work break notification on your computer. This notifies you to stand up from your desk and go for a walk. Some versions lock your computer for 15 minutes, hence forcing you to stop work.
- Take the staircase rather than taking the left.
- If you work in an office, get up and go have a face to face with your colleague rather than using the phone all the time. Explore new places during your lunch break. Send your print to a printer down the hall rather than always using the one by your desk.
- Turn your alone time with your spouse or partner into a stroll
- Install a pedometer to help you track your steps. You can also monitor your progress with your friend via the app.
Just decide what works for you and take it one by one. Step up your activity level gradually. Aim to burn more calories than you take in. Make it a part of your lifestyle, something that you do rather than something that you schedule to do. Within months, you will start to see the difference.