Physical activity is a crucial aspect of staying physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. Exercise facilitates blood circulation, ensuring that blood reaches the furthest cells and returns to the heart. Additionally, exercise stimulates the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are known as the happy hormones.
Written by Kimia Asgari
Although modifying your daily routine may seem challenging and impossible with a busy schedule, here are some tips on how to easily incorporate exercise into your daily routine:
Do something you enjoy
It is important to choose an exercise routine that you enjoy, as you will be more excited and driven to exercise regularly. You can do any activity you want, like dancing around the house, cleaning, practicing yoga, playing with your pet, or anything else that involves moving around. Moreover, schedule more adventurous weekend activities, like biking, going on park dates, or easy day-hiking, rather than sedentary plans.
Turn daily activities into exercise
One very convenient way to incorporate exercise into your day is by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator whenever possible. Taking the stairs is an easy way to get your blood pumping and to work your muscles. Another easy way to add exercise to your day is by parking your car as far away from the door as possible when running errands. That way, you can walk the extra distance and get more exercise.
Exercise at your convenience
Try to plan your day and figure out what times would best allow you to exercise. Morning exercises are a great way to wake up and become energized for the day ahead. However, if you can’t find an ideal time to exercise, you can still manage to squeeze some in throughout the day.
If you have a busy schedule and don't have enough time to move from your desk, there are some stretches that you can do at your desk. These exercises may include shoulder shrugs with a 2 to 3 seconds hold, seated spinal twists, or interlacing the fingers and stretching upwards and then backwards. As well, standing is a form of exercise; you can stand up every so often from your desk and stretch your legs.
Another way to incorporate exercise into your day is by doing a few sets of bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, pushups, and situps. These exercises can be completed any time you have an extra 5 or 10 minutes to spare, like during commercial breaks while watching TV, or in between episodes if you are watching Netflix.
Walk or ride your bike to your destination whenever you can
As we approach the warmer seasons of the year, try to use vehicles and public transportation less often, and instead walk or bike to your destination. This will allow you to enjoy the nice weather and scenery while you stay active.
There are many ways to include exercise into your daily routine, some of which are mentioned above. It is important to continue exercising and not get discouraged by missing one or two days, and remember that it takes time to build a habit.
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