Form These 3 Habits for a More Active Lifestyle

It’s common knowledge that the world is evolving faster than one can imagine, and sometimes adjusting to the change leads to making certain choices that tend to compromise overall health and well-being in the long run. As we go about our daily life, it is quite common to favor factors such as convenience and comfort, which in turn sees us opt for the “easy way out” like driving to and from destinations regardless of the distance, and taking the elevator or escalator, among others. An average individual will spend the better portion of the day moving around from point A to B, and if it is customary to take the easiest way there we run the risk of suffering from chronic illnesses characteristic of a sedentary lifestyle, especially if regular physical activity is not a primary component of our daily life, for instance, employment that requires light to moderate physical activity. Leading an active lifestyle is as simple as incorporating some or all of the habits discussed here into your daily routine.

Take the Stairs

At times using the elevator or escalator is plausible, but if you have to go up only a few floors, opting for the stairs is undoubtedly better for your health. Aerobic exercise is important for optimal cardiovascular functioning, and climbing a flight of stairs offers a variety of benefits to your overall health. The continuous movement of your legs and hips while going up the steps induces deeper breathing and an increase in your heart rate, which in turn increases the flow of blood to all areas of your body.

Stair climbing is often recommended as an ideal way to improve your energy levels, increase immune system function, and lower risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and heart complications. Stair climbing can also prove to be an effective way to lose some weight and keep it off since walking up the stairs, even at a slower pace, burns calories three times faster compared to walking at a fast pace on a fairly flat surface. Working out on the stairs also delivers a higher challenge to those who already maintain good fitness, since it’s estimated to be twice as vigorous as weight lifting or walking on a steep incline.

Walk to Your Destination

Walking is not rocket science. We do it every other day to move from place to place, and it’s an activity we learn at a very young age in life. Sadly, as we grow older, walking is a concept that we start to take more and more for granted.

If you own a motor vehicle, whether a car or a motorcycle, you might want to park it every so often and take a walk. You will find it refreshing and it will do wonders for your health. Who doesn’t need that kind of double benefit in their lives? Trying to avoid driving short distances and parking as far from the front door as possible are both valid ways to increase your walking distance throughout the day. Walking is a simple but effective way to stay active and maintain good health; covering multiple short distances on foot each day can easily build up to a few kilometers, and consequently, a significant number of calories burned.

Use Active and Public Transport

Walking (as discussed above), cycling, rollerblading, and others, are all active and great ways to get around, and they will more often than not take a lot less time, while simultaneously giving you access to the full health benefits associated with getting adequate aerobic exercise.

If the trip is a little too long to walk it, consider using public transportation. Research has shown that individuals who use public transportation are more likely to meet the daily physical activity recommendations for optimum health, as opposed to those who don’t. There reason – most transit trips will at least involve some walking to and from the stops.

So there you have it; making these simple activities habitual and part of your daily routine will see you transform your lifestyle from sedentary to active, while also allowing you to get the recommended daily physical activity for optimal health and fitness. Please note that while the activities suggested here are low to moderate intensity, it is recommended that you speak to your doctor or physician if you have any concerns about your health before increasing your physical activity levels. The information here should be used only as a general guide, and should not be considered to be medical advice.