But, if we're honest with ourselves and take a critical look at our day, there are times when we could be doing more without impacting our daily schedule that much. For example:
If you work outside the home
- You can park farther away from the door.
- If you work on an upper floor, take the stairs to your office (if going up the stairs is too much for you, trying just going down) instead of taking the elevator.
- Get up every hour to two and walk around your office building.
- Take a walk at lunch.
When you're at home
- Add just 15 minutes of housework each day – it may not be fun, but it needs to be done and breaking it up into chunks might make it more tolerable.
- Turn on the radio and dance to a few of your favorite tunes.
- When watching TV, get up at each commercial break and walk around your house.
- If you have stairs, walk up and down those stairs a few times.
On the weekends
- Instead of taking your car to the drive through car wash, wash it by hand.
- Go for a walk around your neighborhood.
- Go for a hike.
- Go for a bike ride.
The above activities may take a little longer, but on the weekends, you can probably find the time to do them.
The important thing is to get up and move! Look at the things you're doing, or not doing, every day and see how you can make them more physically active. There are a lot of little things that, over time, can help increase your physical activity and stamina, without having to spend hours working out. Give it a try today!
