Our bodies need activity, otherwise muscles can atrophy, joints can weaken and structures can become less stable as they aren’t challenged by physical exertion. Being more physically active will help you become a healthier version of yourself, but many people aren’t in love with carving out 90 minutes a day to go to the gym. The good news is that you don’t need to hit the gym each day to become more active. There are plenty of ways to incorporate physical activity into your life without overhauling your entire lifestyle. In today’s blog, we share five super simple ways to become more active.
How To Add Activity To Your Daily Routine
You may be thinking that we’re going to suggest things like “take the stairs instead of the elevator” or “bike to work instead of driving.” While those could help you become more active, we’re going to focus on some lifestyle adjustments that can naturally lend themselves to helping you become more active. If this sounds a bit confusing, hopefully it becomes a little clearer as we share these five simple tips for becoming more physically active.
- Get Rid Of Lingering Pain – Oftentimes we don’t realize how much pain is hindering our daily life until we rid ourselves of it. If pain is keeping you from doing certain activities, sync up with a physical therapist and work to get rid of the pain. Even if pain is making activities like walking, cycling, swimming or running a bit uncomfortable, know that this discomfort could subconsciously turn you off of those activities. Take care of lingering pain, and you’ll likely find yourself gravitating towards activity instead of away from it.
- Sleep – Now, sleep obviously isn’t a physical activity, but quality sleep can absolutely make a person more active during the day. If you’re not getting restful sleep, you may be groggy, lethargic and unmotivated to get off the couch and be active. Make your bedroom an ideal sleeping environment by removing distractions and head to bed around the same time each night. Quality sleep will help you become more active when you’re awake.
- Make A List – Lists help to hold us accountable for our actions each day, and they can actually help fuel the reward center in our brain as we work to check things off our lists. You don’t need to put “exercise for 60 minutes” on your list (although you certainly can), but put some physical activities on your daily list and make it a point to complete them each day. Chores like vacuuming, weeding the garden, sweeping and walking the dog can all help us accomplish something and be active at the same time.
- Rely On Technology – There are tons of smartphone apps and devices that can help us live healthier and more active lifestyles. Invest in a FitBit and strive to hit 10,000 steps each day, or download any number of exercise apps that will help remind you to get moving and monitor your activity so that you can see whether or not you’re hitting your movement goals. Find an app that works for you and let it help to increase your daily activity.
- Find A Friend – Not only can a friend help hold you accountable for your daily movement goals, they can also make the activity feel less like a chore. Sign up for a 5K with a friend, or do some laps around the building with a coworker during your break. Both of you will benefit by becoming more active, and it won’t feel like you’re going out of your way to become healthier if you have someone to talk with while you’re moving.
If you can do all five of these things, we’re confident that you’ll find yourself more active each day, which is great for your body. For help with these tips or for assistance overcoming your pain, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today.