Simple ways to get moving
Doing even a little bit of exercise can be great for your physical and mental health. Exercise increases the production of endorphins, the feel-good hormones that can not only reduce our perception of pain but can also produce a positive feeling. But exercise doesn’t just help you produce more endorphins, it has a whole range of positive side effects. Read on for some tips to get moving.
Benefits of exercise
Exercise can help you build and maintain strong and healthy bones and muscles and it can help with healthy brain function and memory. It can also help increase your energy levels. And, as strange as it may sound, exercise can help you relax and sleep better.
How to get moving
The benefits of including more movement in your daily life are clear. But how do you do it? Here are some tips for how you can add some incidental exercise to your day:
- Get out and about, head to the shops or the local park or meet up with a friend for a coffee. While getting out will help you add some movement to your day, it will also help your mental health, too.
- If you can, take the stairs instead of the lift or escalator.
- Get dancing! Turn on your favourite music and have a little boogie in the lounge room.
- An easy way to get more movement into your day is to do some stretches while you’re seated.
- Get outside and into the garden. Weeding, mowing, raking leaves or even just picking some flowers are all ways you can get moving.
- Take your dog, or your neighbours dog, for a walk.
- Give the car wash a miss and wash and vacuum your car.
- Try parking a little further from work or the train station or the shops. Those few extra metres can quickly add up.
- If you love to play video games, check out exercise or sport based games that encourage you to move.
- Do you love to set and meet goals? Get yourself a pedometer and track your daily steps. Set goals and work towards them.
- Try grip strengtheners or small weights, they’re perfect for doing a few quick reps in the ad breaks or while you wait for the kettle to boil.
Talk to your support network
If you interested in stepping up your daily movement, talk to your doctor and allied health professionals. Not only can they support you in your goals, they can help you find the best ways to incorporate more exercise in your day. And don’t forget to let your support network, your friends and family, know about your plans. They can cheer you on! And maybe even join you for a walk.