Do your best resolutions to get in shape fall to the wayside every time your life gets busy? Maybe you need to make exercise fit your lifestyle instead of the other way around.
You’re more likely to stick to any habit if you make it an integral part of your daily practices. Here are six tips for building exercise into your routine that doesn’t require you to join a gym or find an extra hour in your day.
Gear Up Your Pad
Think about your last Netflix binge. Maybe you needed the mental vacation, but you had to get up sometimes, if only to stretch your muscles and prevent couch-sores on your fanny. If you had a set of dumbbells or resistance bands handy, you could pause for an artificial commercial break and sneak in a combo set of squats with overhead presses.
You don’t have to drop a fortune on a treadmill, although sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist often feature inexpensive listings. Simple tools like a foam roller and a jump rope ring in at less than $20 and can tuck behind your couch until you use them.
If you decide to go bigger, you can’t beat a punching bag when it comes to stress relief. Choose a heavy bag for working on your form or a speed bag for upper-body endurance. If knee or back issues run in your family, cardio equipment like elliptical trainers and recumbent bikes offer heart-friendly workouts with minimal impact on achy joints.
Adopt a New Commute
If you’re like many, your morning commute probably involves gasoline and exhaust fumes. Why not double down on your fitness and eco-friendliness by getting to the office via foot or pedal power?
Walking is a fantastic and free form of exercise — but unless you live quite close, it might not be time-effective. However, the right bike can get you punched in on time once you master your route and know how long your new commute takes. You can even find electric hybrid models that let you switch out of pedal power, so you don’t get all sweaty before your 9 a.m. meeting. Then, you can work your muscles hard after work to ease the day’s stress away.
Host Walking Meetings
Are you responsible for putting together your team’s meetings? Why not give the conference room a rest? Hosting a walking meeting helps improve employee health and energy, leading to a productivity boost.
To have a successful walking meeting, inform participants that it will be active. Check your weather forecast and avoid scheduling these events on days when attendees must wear their best attire for other obligations.
Make accommodations for those with mobility challenges — this rule doesn’t only apply to those in wheelchairs. Many folks with rare or neurological diseases struggle with mobility issues and don’t necessarily like to mention their health issues at work for fear of repercussions. Include a note asking participants to notify you or a designated individual about such challenges. Please be sensitive and supportive.
Upgrade Your Workstation
If you are like many people, you probably spend a considerable amount of time at your desk. All that sitting may not be the new smoking, but it isn’t doing your health any favors, either.
However, you have a world of alternatives to the traditional desk and chair. Variable-height workstations let you segue from standing to sitting throughout the workday. Many users report decreased back pain — will it work for you?
Another alternative is sitting on an inflatable exercise ball. Studies show mixed efficacy in terms of improved calorie burn, but you do strengthen your core muscles. Plus, you can stretch as needed.
Get in the Game
Do you want to make new friends and improve your social life while getting a workout? Why not explore the world of recreational sports?
With spring in the air, your local parks and recreation department will have plenty of teams that you can join. Anything from soccer to hockey will get you moving and meeting new people.
Spruce Up the Old Homestead
Are you tired of looking at all the clutter in your apartment? Cleaning it up burns calories and tones muscle. Vacuuming alone torches over 100 calories in half an hour, depending on your weight and metabolism.
With spring here, yard work is another excellent way to build exercise into your routine. Skip the riding lawnmower and opt for a push model. Pull weeds by hand instead of using toxic pesticides.
Effortlessly Build Exercise Into Your Routine With These 6 Simple Ideas
If you are crunched for time, why not make fitness a part of your life instead of trying to squeeze in a workout? Build exercise into your routine with these six simple ideas.
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