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Simple Ways to Stay Active
IN THIS ISSUE...
of Healthy People
They Make The Time. If it’s important to you, it will get done. It’s that
simple. Some people need a structured program to provide guidance and
accountability. Others like to do a little something everyday, rather than a lot
of activity every other day. Find out what works best for you. Then do it.
They Find Activities They Enjoy. Find something you really enjoy doing.
How about walking, biking, golf or gardening? If you enjoy the activity, it’s
easier to adhere to it and keep it as a part of your daily routine.
They Set A Series of Small, Realistic Goals. Plan your course with a series of
realistic goals. Achieving small goals will help you stay on track, keep you motivated
and give your confidence a boost. Don’t simply say, “I want to lose some weight.”
Write down exactly how much weight, and the time-line for losing those pounds. If
you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.
They Enjoy Feeling Fit. People who exercise regularly have lower stress levels, sleep
better, have more energy and tend to be happier. It’s hard to beat those side-effects!
They Don’t Make Excuses. Instead of wasting time looking for a way to avoid physical
activity, healthy people use that time to actually exercise. When challenged by weather,
time or family issues, seek alternatives. If we put as much energy into exercising as we do
into avoiding it, we’d all be more fit.
They Don’t Criticize Themselves If They Miss A Workout. Life can often throw up
unanticipated roadblocks. The successful exerciser acknowledges them and works around
them. Don’t dwell on what was missed, focus on what you can do in the present and
future. A reporter once asked baseball legend Babe Ruth what he thinks about when he
strikes out. Babe replied, “I think about hitting home runs.”
They View Fitness as a Life-Long Habit. Lifestyle changes can only come
gradually and for the right reasons. My most successful clients view exercise as
a hygiene habit, like brushing their teeth, not simply a recreational pursuit when
they have some free time.
Lack of Time
Dealing with the barrier of limited time requires a little planning since every
“spare” minute will be taken up with something if you don’t have a game-plan.
Remember, getting into the habit of being physically active doesn’t always require
large chunks of time; sometimes your schedule will only allow a few minutes of
activity intermittently throughout the day, and that’s okay. Here are some
suggestions in dealing with the time barrier:
Identify available time slots. Monitor your daily activities for one week. identify at
least three 30-minute time slots you could use for physical activity.
Add physical activity to your daily routine. For example, walk or ride your bike to
work or shopping, organize social activities around physical activity, walk the dog,
exercise while you watch TV, park farther from your destination, etc.
Make time for physical activity. For example, walk, jog, or swim during your lunch
hour, or take fitness breaks instead of coffee breaks.
Select activities requiring minimal time, such as walking, jogging, stair climbing.
Plan ahead. Make physical activity a regular part of your daily or weekly schedule and write it on
your calendar.
Workable Wellness is a program developed by North Carolina Cooperative Extension to provide you with information
and strategies to enhance the quality of your life. For further information, contact your local Cooperative Extension Office.