Too many of us have an all-or-nothing attitude when it comes to staying fit. This attitude makes it very easy to find excuses not to stay active. We’re too “slammed” at work for the gym. Our kids’ activities are keeping us in the car — and off the jogging path — for long hours.
These are just a few of the excuses you might have found yourself using. The all-or-nothing attitude could also be one reason that almost 80% of Americans don’t get enough exercise to maintain optimum health. Yet there are five simple elements you can add into your daily life that truly can help you get and stay more active.
- Consider a standing desk
Getting a standing desk is one simple way to get more active. How do standing desks help? It’s amazing how much healthier simply standing in place is compared to sitting. For one thing, you burn more calories. You’ll also hunch less, which means that neck and shoulder pain can be reduced. Standing can also boost fitness in significant ways by keeping blood sugar more steady after a meal and by encouraging more movement overall.
- Fool yourself into running errands
Taking opportunities to run simple errands can be a great way to stay more active. For instance, you can try using a smaller glass for your water. This means that you’ll have to return to the water cooler or kitchen more often to fill it and move more in the process.
Likewise, you can make going down the hall to borrow a stapler a separate trip from going upstairs to ask someone in HR about your vacation schedule. If our fitness tracking apps and devices have taught us anything, it’s that a hundred extra steps here and there really do add up over the course of the day!
- Use fitness benefits as an incentive to do chores
Just 20 or 30 minutes of chores a day can add up to a cleaner, more organized space. This time frame also makes short chore periods perfect for staying active. Experts estimate that about 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day can help maintain and improve health.
You can certainly get a lot of toys into baskets during that time. It’s also possible to mop a floor or weed the herb garden in that short span of time. So, if you remember that these tasks also burn calories and build up your muscle strength, it may help you feel more like tackling them.
- Keep exercise equipment handy
A fourth simple way to stay active is to keep some exercise equipment handy in certain places. You could stash a yoga mat or 5-pound weights under your bed. You might try hanging resistance bands on a hook in the kitchen. That way, you’ll be far more likely to do a few reps while watching TV or waiting for food to cook!
- Don’t leave physical therapy out of your plan
Physical therapy is a way to address the aches and pains that keep you from staying active. In addition, many physical therapy sessions are a workout in themselves, which helps you meet your weekly cardio and/or endurance goals.
A physical therapist is also a great resource for tips on tweaking your daily habits. He or she can go over what a normal day looks like for you and offer advice on how to make it a more active one. If chronic pain is an issue, your therapist can also show you specific moves that can help reduce your physical challenges.
Excel Sports & Physical Therapy can help you find ways to stay active
Looking for a physical therapist that can help you learn how to stay more active? Our Excel Sports & Physical Therapy team is primed to help you. We offer free screenings that can help pinpoint issues that might be hindering your ability to be active. Our team also excels at building personalized therapy plans intended to help improve your ability to move and stay active.
Not wanting to go out for your physical therapy? Our team can help bring physical therapy to you. We’re currently offering virtual care and at-home therapy that can help you get therapy from our experienced physical therapists without setting foot outside of your home.
Don’t wait to start getting our help with your injuries and medical issues that are affecting your activity levels. Contact our team today for more information about how we can help you or to schedule your initial appointment.
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