When you're busy, how can you fit exercise into the day?
Fortunately, exercise doesn't have to be a formal long workout,
and you can find dozens of ways to squeeze more fitness into
your life. Here are a few ways to incorporate more exercise into
your day-to-day life.
1. Fitness at Work
You can exercise at the office without anyone even knowing! One
of the most frequently mentioned methods is to take the stairs
rather than the elevator. Take that idea a little further and
walk around as much as possible. Walk over to a co-worker's desk
rather than sending an e-mail or instant message. Instead of
using the bathroom on your floor, go to one a few floors away -
and take the stairs.
Other ideas include doing simple exercises and stretches right
at your desk, in your office, or in the bathroom. Four
five-minute exercise breaks throughout the day can do you
wonders.
2. Fitness at Home
An easy way to add fitness at home is to involve the whole
family. Kids don't view exercise as work, and you can make it a
special time to share with your children. Have the family take a
walk before or after dinner or organize a family game of tag in
the backyard.
Other ideas for home fitness include turning housework into
aerobic exercise. Get the 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 workout.
3. Out and About
Incorporate fitness into your errands. When you're standing in
line, contract your buttocks for a count of 15 and then release.
Another good exercise to strengthen your calf muscles is to
stand on your tiptoes for a count of 10 and then relax. Pushing
a loaded grocery cart also qualifies as aerobic effort.
When you're sitting in traffic, do some arm exercises and
stretches while you wait. You may get a few funny looks but at
least your blood pressure isn't soaring.
At the mall? Walk briskly around all levels at least twice. Or
stop by the park for a walk on the way home.
You can find hundreds of options for brief fitness moments, so
just take a minute to figure out what you can do wherever you
happen to be.
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