Tips for Staying Active Throughout the Workday
We all know that eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise is important if you want to lose weight or stay fit and healthy. The problem is that with our busy schedules, a lot of us find it difficult to get enough exercise. The good news is, with a little bit of creativity, you can find ways to exercise even when you can’t make it to the gym. Keep reading for our tips for staying active throughout the workday.
Do More Walking
The simple act of walking can have tremendous health benefits. On the website for the Mayo Clinic there is an article that says regular brisk walking can help you maintain a healthy weight, strengthen your bones, improve your balance and coordination, and even help you manage various health conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes.
Doing more walking during the day is easy and it really doesn’t have to take up too much time. When you get to work, park on the far end of the parking lot and walk in rather than parking as close as possible to the front door. You can also take the stairs instead of the elevator. A lot of people pay good money for a gym membership every month just so they can use a stair stepping machine. You can skip the elevator and walk up and down stairs for free.
During your breaks or lunch time, you can go for a brisk walk rather than just sitting in the break room. If you sit down in front of the computer all day, why sit down in front of the television during your break? Go for a brisk walk even if it just lasts for 10 or 15 minutes; every little bit helps.
Ride a Bike to Work
If you have a long commute, riding a bike may not be an option but if you live close enough to your job, you may want to consider riding your bike to and from work. You can get a great workout and burn a lot of calories while also burning less gas and doing something good for the environment.
If you do have a long commute, it is still possible to ride a bike. You can ride your bike to a bus or train station and take public transportation the rest of the way.
Some Exercises You Can Do While You Are at Work
You don’t necessarily have to wait for your lunch break before you can get some exercise. There are some exercises you can do from your desk. Even if you just stand up, standing will burn more calories than sitting. Try standing up while making phone calls rather than staying seated.
If you are standing up there are also some exercises you can do. You can do calf raises by standing up, raising yourself up onto your tip toes, then slowly lowering yourself back down. Repeat that process and it won’t be long until you feel the burn. If you aren’t too self-conscious about looking silly, you can even do some squats and work your quadriceps.
You can do triceps presses at your desk by supporting your weight on the arms of your chair. Just dip down slowly and then extend back up and repeat.
If you don’t want anyone to see you working out you can even do some exercises undercover by doing some leg lifts under your desk.
Hopefully you will find these tips for staying active throughout the workday helpful. Simply finding any way to move your body more will be beneficial so be creative and try to find ways to avoid staying in a seated position for extended periods of time.
