Little Things Add Up:
Consider the time you spend engaged in structured exercise each week. Even 60 minutes a day is only about 4% of your day. The other 96% is lifestyle and diet. We’ve discussed diet here recently, today we’ll focus on lifestyle.
Little things add up. The following are almost stupid simple, but easily overlooked techniques to add that little bit extra.
1. Parking. Park in the last possible space in the lot. This could easily add 200 or 300 additional steps to and from, while costing you maybe 45 seconds.
2. Lunch. Walk at lunch. Walk at lunch. Walk at lunch. The benefits of walking are always overlooked. Walking burns fat and calories, strengthens our backs, and enhances our posture.
Being outside, in the sun gives a health dose of Vitamin D, and the fresh air will provide an additional boost of energy.
3. Carry Groceries. If you’re stopping by the supermarket to pick up a few things use a basket. If you’re shopping for more than a basket can hold, use the cart but carry your groceries from the cart to the car (even if it takes multiple trips).
4. Activity Reminder. Set a reminder, at regular intervals, to stand up, walk around, do 10 jumping jacks, whatever. Use your phone or your calendar.
5. Stairs. Stupid simple gain. Take. The. Stairs. Skip the elevator, skip the escalator.
6. Stand. If you work a desk job, stand for part of your day. Read documents standing up (use a filing cabinet or shelf if you need to). Talk on the phone standing up, or even walking around.
7. Talk Face-to-Face. Ditch email and skip the phone call if you need to communicate with someone down the hall.
8. Stay Active. The average American spends 34 hours watching TV each week. The average commercial break is 105 seconds. If there are even 4 commercial breaks per hour that is 238 minutes of commercials per week – FOUR HOURS!! Get up and move: Pushups, walk up and down the stairs, jump up and down, run sprints...whatever, just move!
Like I said, the little things add up...you may be killing it in the gym, but inactive otherwise. These little things will add up.
