Modern life is busy, what with the working, parenting and Facebooking. And snacking. Those (and other) demands can make fitting in a workout more difficult than fitting into your jeans from high school. But with a little creativity, it's possible to make your everyday activities count double, according to Danielle Johnson. "For many people, the biggest obstacle to getting more exercise is time," says Johnson, a physical therapist for the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. "People feel stretched between their career, child care demands and family commitments. Thinking of spending an hour extra at the gym may feel overwhelming."
But you don't have to give in to that feeling. Instead, Johnson says, you can find ways to make your everyday activities work double. "You'll still be able to reap the benefits of exercise by using small bouts of movement throughout the day," Johnson says. "Two 10-minute walks, a few sets of stairs and some five-minute intervals of bodyweight squats, lunges or push-ups can add up to big health benefits."
While Johnson offers tips for tuning up your activities at home, we thought it would be fun to re-imagine the workday with an eye toward physical fitness. So, without further ado, we offer our own take on Johnson's tips:
While some of these suggestions may be a bit tongue in cheek, there's serious science behind the idea of incorporating more movement into your daily activities. "Research suggests that as little as 10 minutes of cardiovascular activity can make a big difference in your health," Johnson says. "I often equate health to putting away money for retirement. Putting away savings, even in small amounts, will add up big over time."
It all adds up. Be sure to leave us a comment below before you use the social media tools to share this story with others.
Tags: Danielle Johnson, Exercise, Health and Wellness, Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program