Squeeze incidental exercise into your day, here are a few ideas to increase your step count:

  1. Chop fresh vegetables instead of buying frozen ones so you’ll need to stand up at the kitchen bench.
  2. When you get a phone call, walk around your house or backyard while you talk.
  3. Turn on some tunes and dance while cooking! 
  4. Instead of meeting a friend for coffee in a cafe, suggest a walk through a local park instead.
  5. Use a standing desk when at the computer or while doing paperwork.
  6. Instead of sitting and reading, listen to audiobooks or podcasts as you walk, clean or garden. 
  7. When tidying up, put things away in multiple small trips rather than one big haul. 
  8. Rake the leaves outside.
  9. Take the stairs instead of the lift whenever the opportunity arises.
  10. Walk around the block once in the morning and again in the afternoon. 
  11. Give the delivery guy a break! When you order food in, pick it up yourself. 
  12. Rather than shouting out to family members in other rooms, walk over there to talk. 
  13. Plan active dates with your partner, such as a gentle walk or game of tennis, instead of dinner and a movie. 
  14. Walk to the corner shop or servo for milk rather than getting in your car.
  15. Wash your car by hand instead of taking it to the car wash. 
  16.  Always leave your mobile phone in one place (not your back pocket), so when you need it, you must walk to it. 

 

For a healthy mind and environment:

  1. Plant or weed your garden or care for indoor plants.
  2. Organise a wardrobe.
  3. Hang your laundry to air-dry on a clothesline instead of tossing it directly into the dryer. 
  4. Give your dog a bath instead of paying someone else to do it. 
  5. Paint, hang curtains or finish any other home-makeover task on your to-do list. 

 

For a healthy body:

  1. Stretch your legs for 10 minutes after every episode you binge-watch.
  2. Set your phone alarm to chime hourly. Each time it goes off , stand up and walk to the kitchen for a glass of water, or walk up and down the stairs.
  3. Make bathroom breaks the perfect opportunity to get outside for some fresh air and stretch the legs. 

 

 

 

© Prevention Australia
First published:
Tags:  healthy livinglifestyle