Most of us have room to make some lifestyle changes to improve our fitness. Probably the most difficult hurdle is to change a habit and make it stick. However, if we keep trying new ways to incorporate fitness in our lives, we can make them a habit. It’s important to know that there are ways to incorporate activity into your day, even if you can’t work out at the gym.
One of the best ways to build fitness into your daily routine is to make it part of your weekly schedule, and the best place to start that process is at work. You can start by using the stairs instead of using the elevator. If your office is too many flights of stairs to walk the whole thing, take the stairs for a particular number of flights and then take the elevator for the rest. Start small and work your way up to a more challenging number. This is an easy way to increase the amount of calories burned in one day, which can make losing or maintaining weight less challenging and frustrating.
In addition to mastering, you can take short walks over a lunch break or for coffee. If you have trouble motivating yourself to walk, ask a coworker to go with you – you may even be able to have some meetings while you walk. You can increase your number of steps in a day even more if you park in a lot that’s further away – every step counts!
If you live near work, you may want to consider riding a bike from time to time. Or next time you need to run an errand, ride your bike to the store. It’s often a habit to take a vehicle when the length of travel could easily be managed by walking or biking.
Lastly, don’t forget that the activities you do around the house can be fitness oriented too. Plan some housework or yard work to do when you get home after work.
Rebecca