8 Simple Ways to Move Every Day for a Healthy Lifestyle
By The Pretzel Kids staff
Are you looking to live a healthier lifestyle?
Well, leading an active lifestyle is key and many people simply don’t move as much as they should. Yet, the good news is: There are a lot of great ways to stay active!
The possibilities are endless: From fitting in a bit of extra movement while doing everyday tasks, to taking a walk around the block daily, to finding a new active hobby (hint: do yoga!)
Take a look at 8 simple ways to move every day for a healthy lifestyle.
1. Get Moving While you do Housework
When you put moderate effort into your housework, you burn off more calories than you realize.
To help get your heart rate up while doing housework, turn on some music. Music makes mundane tasks more fun and can help you stay on task while you move. This is also a great way to get your family on board with a healthier lifestyle because they do not even realize they are exercising.
Another tip: If you are cleaning alone at night, try wearing headphones for the same effect without having to worry about waking others.
2. Take the Stairs
If you’re able to take the stairs to go up multiple flights, this can be a great way to get some more activity into your day. If you live in a second floor home and want to increase your time on the stairs, make a point to use the bathroom on the higher floor or bring items upstairs in smaller loads to get more trips in.
3. Walk or Bike when Going a Short Distance
If it’s a nice day out, skip driving the car for nearby trips. If you need something from the grocery store or work near home, leave the car parked and go for a walk or ride your bike to get some physical activity. This has the added benefit of giving you more time outside in the fresh air.
4. Stand Up and Stretch at Your Desk or During Breaks
This trick works whether you work at the office or at home. Set an alarm on your phone or use a notification on your smartwatch to remind you to take a break at least once per hour. This break can be as simple as standing and stretching, taking a stroll around the office, or going to get a cup of coffee or a bottle of water.
5. Go for a Walk
If you want to be more active, planning a daily walk either on your lunch break or after dinner can be a great way to get more activity into your day. Walking may be simple, yet it is a great way to be more active, especially if you don’t go to the gym or work out regularly.
Walking is also a great way to encourage your whole family to exercise. So, get the kids out or take the dog for a walk. You can even look for new and interesting places to go for walks – from parks, to wooded trails, to neighborhoods in your area.
6. Find an Active Hobby
The age of hobbies for fun may seem old-fashioned, but there is a valid reason mental health was in a better place when people had hobbies for fun rather than just to turn them into side hustles (which we also think is a great idea!)
If you are looking to be more active every day, consider adding a hobby that helps you reach this goal. From joining a sports team to practicing yoga, make sure you find something that you love. An active hobby will make it that much easier for you to get up and move every day.
7. Invest in a Standing or an Under-Desk Treadmill
If you work at a desk all day, consider investing in a standing desk so you don’t spend too much time sitting. An adjustable desk is a great idea as it will allow you to go between sitting and standing as needed.
If you already have a standing desk, you can also benefit from getting an under-desk treadmill that can be folded up and put out of the way when you don’t want to use it. This can allow you to walk on a treadmill to get in some extra activity while you are working.
8. Do Yoga!
A story about staying active would not be complete without talking about the health benefits of practicing yoga. Besides increasing flexibility, balance, focus and strength, yoga has been proven to help calm anxiety.
Whether you practice yoga at home, go to a yoga class, do yoga with kids, or even become a yoga teacher, the benefits of this ancient practice are endless!
Time to Get Moving for a healthy lifestyle
Are you ready to move more every day and lead a healthier lifestyle? Just use this guide and the 8 simple tips outlined in this article and you’ll find that you’ll be more active in no time!
And psst: Teaching kids yoga is a great way to both stay active AND make extra money!
