Life often seems to move at the speed of light. When your schedule is crammed and you have too much going on, is it even possible to fit exercise into your day? Take heart;exercise doesn't have to be a formal one-hour event. Here are four easy ways to fit more exercise into your day-to-day life.
Fitness at Work
These days, more employers are encouraging their workers to get healthy. Some companies even incorporate fitness breaks into the workday to accommodate busy schedules. But what if your company isn't one of these fitness-friendly organizations? There are many ways you can squeeze in exercise at the office without anyone even knowing. One frequently mentioned methods is taking the stairs instead of the elevators. That's great, but let's take the idea a little further and try to walk around as much as possible. Walk over to a co-worker's desk rather than sending an email or instant message. Instead of using the washroom on your floor, go to one a few stories up – and take the stairs. Other ideas include practicing Pilates moves right at your desk, or doing simple stretches in your office or in the washroom. Once you start looking for opportunities to exercise, you'll find them everywhere.
Fitness at Home
Great, you're home – working out is so much easier now, right? Well, maybe not. Home and family demands just as much attention and responsibility as work. An easy way to add fitness at home is to involve the whole family. Kids don't view exercise as a chore, and it can turn into a special time to share with your child. Have the family take a walk before or after dinner or organize a family-wide game of tag in the backyard. Other ideas for home fitness include turning housework into aerobic exercise. Get that vacuum cleaner going and use your arm, back, and core muscles to propel it back and forth. Load the dishwasher and maintain proper posture as you bend and straighten, keeping your abdominal muscles tight. Sweep the driveway as fast as you can for a quick aerobic blast!
Out and About
Did you know you can use the checkout line at the grocery store as a workout zone? When you're standing in any kind of line, contract your buttocks for a count of 15 and then release. This helps strengthen the muscles. It can also keep you from losing your cool when the customer in front of you needs three price checks. Another good move is to stand on your tiptoes for a count of 10 and then drop back. This is good for the calf muscles. Pushing a loaded grocery cart also qualifies as aerobic effort, don't you think? When you're sitting in traffic, do some arm exercises and stretching moves while you wait. You may get a few funny looks, but at least your blood pressure isn't boiling over.
Spur of the Moment
If you're having one of those lazy days or are just bored, use your time to visit a local park and do some speed-walking. If the weather is uncooperative, go to the local mall and walk briskly around all levels at least twice. There are countless options for random fitness jaunts, so look around your area and put your imagination to work. Where do you want to go for your next spur of the moment fitness session?