The majority of individuals feel that in order to stay in shape, they must devote hours each day to working out or going to the gym. This is why so many of us claim that we don’t have time to work out! Exercising and remaining physically fit, on the other hand, does not have to take hours out of your day.
You can incorporate a few fundamental aspects into your everyday routine to help you live a healthier, more active lifestyle. To discover more about how to become a better you, contact Total Care Physical Therapy office today! In the meantime, read these seven tips for better health.
1. Try a standing desk for a change.
A standing desk is a desk that allows you to stand up while you’re working! It’s much healthier to stand in place and work than it is to sit for 8 hours a day in front of your computer. You burn more calories, you hunch less (eliminating shoulder nad neck pain), and your fitness levels are boosted significantly.
This is because your blood sugar will remain more steady after a meal, which encourages more movement. There are tons of brands out there that sell standing desks as well as collapsible extensions you can place on your regular desk when you’d like to take a break from sitting all day.
2. Move around during lunch!
If you’re at work, choosing a healthy restaurant or marketplace for lunch instead of going to the cafeteria is a great option. Pack your lunch? No problem. If there aren’t any eateries around, go on a short 15-20 minute walk before you return to your brown-bag lunch.
For those of you working from home or retired, taking a walk around your neighborhood or to a local grocery store to gather ingredients for lunch is fine too. Living out in the country or the suburbs? Pretend that your daily walk is the “fee” you have to pay in order to get into your kitchen and make that sandwich.
3. Take the long way.
We know — taking the shortest, fastest route typically makes your day way faster and easier. However, ask yourself if the time you saved by parking a few spaces away from the front of the store really added any value to your health.
See if you can make a game out of parking as far away as possible (preferably the end of the parking lot!) so that you have to push your shopping cart or carry your bag a greater distance. When you’re at work, unless you’re seriously late for a meeting, take the stairs instead of the elevator!
4. Find excuses to do small errands at work.
You can persuade yourself to get up and walk around. For water, use a smaller glass, and for tea, use a smaller mug. You’ll have to return to your kitchen for a refill more frequently if you do it this way.
You may also make a point of going down the hall to ask a coworker for office supplies or going upstairs to speak with someone in HR about your vacation hours. Trying out new fitness technology may also be really motivating — if our Fitbits have taught us anything, it’s that a few hundred additional steps here and there build up over the course of the day!
5. Keep fitness equipment handy.
Place your yoga mat or 5-pound weights under your bed or in a frequented place. Hang your resistance bands in the kitchen or laundry area on a hook. You’ll be more inclined to do a few reps and exercises while watching TV or waiting for your food to prepare if you see them when you go into the room.
6. Do more chores!
Did you know that 20 or 30 minutes of chores a day equates to a much cleaner, organized space? You can get a ton of dishes done in that time, not to mention sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, or weeding your garden! These tasks can be dreaded however, if you remember that doing them also burns calories and strengthens your core, it might help you feel more eager to attack them!
7. Give physical therapy a chance.
According to The National Institute of Health, being active has been shown to have many health benefits, both physically and mentally. It may even help you live longer. If you find yourself avoiding physical activity because you’re in pain, know that there’s help out there for you.
Physical therapy can help you obtain the exercise you need by addressing the numerous aches and pains that are preventing you from doing so. Because of all the stretches and exercises your physical therapist will have you do, many physical therapy sessions are considered workouts in and of themselves. This might also assist you in achieving your weekly cardio or endurance targets.
Your physical therapist will also provide you with regular suggestions for improving your daily routines and leading a healthier, more active lifestyle. He or she will go through your daily routine with you and provide you suggestions on how to include additional fitness activities and exercise into it.
If you have chronic pain, your physical therapist can train you how to move in particular ways to alleviate or perhaps eliminate your physical difficulties.
Call our clinic today
It doesn’t have to be hard to fit more physical activity into your routine. Call our office today to see how physical therapy can help you live a pain-free and more active life!
