Simple Ways to Move More Each Day
Posted: December 20, 2019 | By: Stacy Croninger
Moving. Walking. Exercise. All things we hear we should be doing on a regular, if not daily, basis to improve or maintain our health. As life happens, exercise and movement is often pushed aside to do things we consider more important. We all do it. Let’s look at how you can add movement, mainly walking, into your day.
Why move?
There are lots of reasons, many with research to back them, for moving your body on a regular basis. The Mayo Clinic lists several reasons, which pretty much cover the top ones. Here are a few of them:
- Weight control
- Combats health conditions and diseases
- Improves your mood
- Boosts energy
- Promotes better sleep
Read the full article to see information on each of these categories, as well as a few more. I’m guessing one or more of these peaks your interest. Now that you’ve seen the light regarding moving your body, let’s check out simple ways to get more walking in your day.
Out and About
Are you at a child/grandchild’s activity or class? If you don’t need to pay attention (meaning it’s a class for them), try walking around the building or up and down the hall. If it’s an activity that you are watching, like a sporting event, walk along the playing field or gym. Or even take a short walk during intermission.
When you go shopping, park away from the door. If you are going to multiple stores in an area together, park once and walk to each store. If you have lots of bags, walk back to the car and drop them off and head to the next store.
Take regular breaks during the day and walk around the block or your building. Even a 5-10 minute walk a few times a day provides benefits. If the weather doesn’t permit walking outside, consider going up and down a set of stairs a few times.
While Inside
While on phone meetings, try walking around, aka pace. You’ll be amazed how much walking you can get done on a call. You might consider walking slowly on a treadmill during calls, but keep your pace slower so you aren’t breathing heavy and are able to hold a conversation.
For days when your cleaning up the house, return items to their locations as you find them instead of waiting until you have a pile to maximize the number of steps you get.
In buildings that you need to go to an upper floor, use the stairs instead of the elevator. If you have knees that don’t like stairs, figure out if up or down is better and do that and use the elevator for the painful direction.
Motivation and Planning
Create a plan for what you want to do. Write it down as a method of committing to yourself and as a reminder. Whether your plan is to park further away when shopping, take a walk during lunch, or walk with a friend, deciding when and where is half the battle. With a plan, you are making a commitment, which is much easier to stick to than saying, “I should walk more.”
For many, having an accountability partner or walking group, makes it easier to stick to your plan. Want a built in accountability partner? Get a dog! They won’t let you skip out on taking them for a walk.
There are online groups that have walking challenges that provide great accountability. For example, Gretchen Rubin is using #Walk20For20 to unite people on social media for those that are committing to walking 20 minutes a day in 2020. Or check out World Walking for a community, challenges, and tracking. Check with your local community center as well for walking groups or events.
Support Your Body
With all the moving, you want to make sure your body is getting the nutrition it needs. The Healthy Body Pak provides the core nutrients you need as well as supporting specific needs like joints, blood sugar, and more.
Here’s to a new year filled with moving our bodies more!
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