Activity needs to be fun and engaging - Group Talk - Week Commencing 21st April 2025.
- friendsonajourney2
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
It doesn’t matter what our age is, the evidence is strong that physical activity can help lead us to a happier healthier life.
The evidence shows that exercise can reduce the risk of major illnesses e.g. heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancers, it also helps support our weight loss and weight management.
The UK Chief Medical Officer advises the government that adults to stay healthy should aim to do 150 minutes of physical activity over a week.
Being fit or getting fit doesn’t mean we have to join the gym; in fact, we can incorporate exercise into our everyday household tasks.
The modern society we live in has allowed technology to make our lives easier.
· We no longer wash our clothes by hand, we use a washing machine that does the job for us.
· Many of us don’t wash up pots, the dishwasher does it for us.
· We have stopped using public transport and our legs to walk to work, we use and drive our own cars, parking in staff parking next to where we work.
· Entertainment doesn’t come from exploring our beautiful countryside, it often comes from the sofa watching the television or other smart device.
In fact, the Department of Health and Social Care reports that our sedentary behaviour is bad for our long-term health and our inactivity is a ‘silent killer’.
Some of us say exercise is a chore and feel it’s impossible to find a balance between work, family, and social life. Being active doesn’t in fact require hours of dedicated gym sessions, we can fit exercise into our daily routine allowing us to feel stronger and healthier and more energised without sacrificing our precious time.
In fact, being active can be fun we just have to look at it differently, if we add a few extra steps here and an extra stretch there, we are immediately increasing our activity. We just need to be creative in ways to keep active: -
· When enjoying a walk, set yourself a goal, but not on how many steps or how far you’re going to travel, but noting the different coloured front doors that you pass, or having a scavenger hunt collecting; feathers, insects, leaves… or listening to the different songs the birds sing – can you match the tune to the bird.
· That DIY list of jobs you need to complete around the house, have faith in yourself you can do it, and when you start you will increase your cardio and strength training, without a thought.
· When family and friends come to visit with their children or younger family members, joining their fun and games, running around with them in the garden or at the park or challenge them to Wii Sports or another alternative using VR.
· If planning a stroll with not much to view download an audio book or a playlist to assist increasing your daily step count without noticing.
· Swap clicking for online shopping and actually go to the supermarket to do your weekly shopping or walk around the shopping centres to buy your clothes. This is a great activity for a family day out, refreshing your wardrobe or restocking the kitchen cupboards and in turn increasing your step count
· If taking your car to work park as far away as you possibly can, embrace the walk. This can be the same when out shopping, park further away and carry your shopping bags to the car getting strength training in as well as cardio
· Whilst at work if tied to a desk swap that seated position for a standing desk you burn more Calories standing than sitting, it also engages your core. Additional to the standing desk you could try a wobble board to increase extra leg movement and balance
· If you’ve got a long phone call to make don’t just sit there, pace around the room or go for a walk outside
Whether you’re active indoors or outdoors, on your own or in a group, it’s important that your fitness is engaging and enjoyable.
You might like to look for new groups to join rather than the gym: -
· Dance classes: - Zumba, hip hop, freestyle, Ballroom, Disco…
· Rambling groups Embracing the countryside we live in
· Cycling clubs
· Water sports: - paddle boarding, kayaking, Canoeing, open water swimming…
· Rock climbing, Bouldering
· Martial arts, Kickboxing
· Horseback riding
· Trampolining
· Circuit training
· Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi…
· Hula hooping, Skipping…
· Gardening, DIY, deep cleaning
Exercise needs to be fun and not a chore where we are not consciously thinking that our heart rate needs to be up or our muscles working. Be creative About how you can fit more activity in your daily routine resulting In a happier healthier you.
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