We’re all leading such busy lives that it’s difficult to find time to fit in regular physical activity. The good news is that you don’t have to lock yourself in the gym to get into shape. Instead, there are a number of everyday things you can to do get fit and burn calories. These five tricks to help you move more are all about limiting the distractions and conveniences that can hold you back from having a more active lifestyle.
1. Consider morning workouts
When you begin your morning with a workout, not only do you improve your fitness but you also kickstart your metabolism, boost your mental wellbeing and feel energised for the whole day. Morning workouts are great for another reason – you won’t have to dread coming home to do exercise at the end of a long, exhausting day.
2. Ditch the tech
Smartphones and computers make it so easy for us to simply sit in one place on the couch to organise our lives. Try to fight the temptation of convenience by making yourself go out to run errands and do tasks that you might otherwise stay at home to complete. If you need to do your banking, take a walk to your local branch rather than relying on internet banking. And if you need to buy a gift or an item for the house, head to the shops to pick it up rather than buying it online.
3. Skip the coffee catch-ups
How often does catching up with friends seem to revolve around a meal or a cup of coffee? Not only does this way of connecting force us to be more sedentary, it also means we spend more money. Next time, suggest to your friends that you go somewhere different. In place of getting a coffee, how about you take a walk together? And rather than having lunch, consider doing a yoga class with your mate. It will be more interesting and memorable than having just another lunch.
4. Workout during ad breaks
Australian adults spend, on average, two hours per day watching TV – that’s a lot of time to spend sitting down at a time. Imagine how much exercise you could squeeze in if you spent those three-minute ad breaks doing push-ups, lunges or tricep dips off the edge of the couch instead? Another option is to spend the ad breaks doing cleaning around the house – you’d be amazed by how many calories your body burns during a high-paced vacuuming session.
5. Make exercise part of your commute
Whenever you take public transport, you have the opportunity to fit in some more exercise. Instead of going the whole way on the train or bus, you could try getting off a stop earlier and walking at a brisk pace the rest of the way. But since any exercise is better than no exercise, you can also just use this opportunity to take a gentle stroll and explore an area you might not have visited. If you drive to most places, investing in a bicycle for shorter trips, such as to the shops or a friend’s house, is a great way to increase your daily exercise.
What do you do to keep active?
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Five effective low-impact activities
