How to Get More Activity into Your Day

Similar to the advice we usually get to just ‘eat healthier’, the concept of living a more active & healthy lifestyle is one that is open to interpretation and that can easily differ from one person to another.

While we can at first motivate ourselves to be more active by investing in nice workout wear, equipment and personalized plans, the busier our lives get, sometimes the sheer thought of implementing a workout to our routine can seem practically impossible and ultimately, demotivating.

In moments like these, it’s important to remind ourselves that being a more ‘active person’ simply involves reaching a common health goal.

To avoid being inactive.

Nowadays, it is recommended to get a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity per week, which can be broken up into 30 minutes per day, and at least 10 min per interval. To help break out of the overly sedentary lifestyle, here are some ways I like to add more physical activity into my day:

Take regular breaks from work

While the work-from-home lifestyle can seem like a blessing in disguise, it also give us leeway to never (know when to) stop working. Media fatigue is real. To help us settle down, relax and disconnect from the desktop life, try setting times in your day to simply…take a break! Whether it is to shake off workplace stress or to decompress after a lengthy task, taking a break to get up and move can look like:

Standing up & stretching
Walking around the house or office
Cooking or preparing oneself a meal
Doing chores (ex: taking out the garbage/recycling/compost, sweeping the floor, or washing the dishes)
Running errands (ex: grocery shopping, going to the pharmacy)

2. Include a workout into your day

We all have tough & stressful weeks and a variety of different responsibilities to attend to in a day. While the feelings of stress and overwhelm can quickly envelop us, the simple act of movement , in any way, shape or form, can help us to break away from the limiting beliefs and to shake off the unease.

Physical activity provides us with a sense of bliss and relief as it allows our bodies to release endorphins. Want to take the step further? Try:

Brisk walking
Biking
Doing a small workout (check out the Nike Training App for some inspo!)
Having a short daily yoga session
Trying a group class

3. Change your method of transportation

With the price of gas steadily increasing, it might just be the wake-up call we all needed to start changing our usual habits! Changing up the way we travel can help us to take better care of our health and make a conscious effort at reducing our carbon footprint. This can look like:

Walking to and from places
Taking the bus, train or metro/subway
Using the stairs when entering or exiting a building
Skateboarding or rollerblading
Biking

4. Play a sport

It’s fun, it’s social and the best part? It’s personal to you! Find comfort and fun in playing a sport alone, with a close friend or family member, and/or with large groups of people. Need some ideas? Try…

Soccer, football or volleyball
Bouldering or climbing
Tennis, ping pong or badminton
Running
Spike ball

5. Remember to switch things up from time to time

We’ve all been there before. Depending on the time of year, the weather can easily get the best of us. In order to help keep us both active and motivated during times of adjustment, it it best to allow our activities to change just as the seasons change. Avoid letting things get too dull, and don’t be afraid to just put yourself out there! Try…