by Anastasia Fermin, Sunshima blog writer
Not everyone has a few hours every day to spend at a gym or fitness club. Many of us have long workdays, errands, and household responsibilities that take up a lot of our time. This doesn’t mean that you can’t live an active and healthy lifestyle. You can avoid becoming sedentary by incorporating a little movement in your day, even if it’s just 10 minutes. Here are some creative ways to get more exercise when you’re short on time.
Do Full-Body exercises
If you don’t have much time to spend on a dedicated workout or training program, work smart. Compound movements that engage more than one muscle group and require you to use your whole body to execute them are your best bet. These movements include exercises such as burpees, jumping jacks, planks, push-ups, the squat press, and mountain climbers to name a few.
Exercise while you do chores
Have you ever felt like your household chores seem like a workout? Well, they certainly are! Vacuuming, mopping, cleaning your room, and scrubbing your bathroom can be exhausting in a good way. Even less labour-intensive chores such as washing dishes or even cooking on a hob can be an ideal time to do some squats or calf raises and get a good sweat.
Have a morning stretch routine
Get your body revved up to face your day with a morning stretch routine. Fire up your muscles and become more mentally alert first thing in the morning with some stretches. You can do simple yoga poses, or more dynamic stretching to get the blood flowing. If possible, set your wake-up alarm 20 minutes earlier to dedicate more time to stretching before you start your day.
Turn playtime into a workout
If you have kids, then you know how much they love to play. Make use of this eagerness and take your kids outside to play. You can use this time to get more physical activity into your day by playing catch, running, and jumping with your kids. It’s fun for them and also encourages them to move and get active.
Take the stairs
Lifts and escalators are useful inventions but they can also make it easier for you to miss out on opportunities to get some exercise. When you have a choice, choose the stairs. Walking briskly up and down stairs can bring your heart rate up and be a quick way to get some cardiovascular exercise. If you are using an escalator, walk on it instead of standing still. You’ll even reach the other end faster!
Just move
The key to getting and staying active is to keep on moving. Embrace your everyday movements and make the most out of them. Take an after-dinner walk every day, have a dance party with your spouse, or walk on the spot while you watch tv. There is always an opportunity in your daily life to get moving. Don’t forget to make healthy food choices. The combination of a healthy diet and exercise can reap countless benefits for keeping off extra pounds, improving your health, and your overall quality of life!