For those naturally inclined to sport, exercising it’s a necessary part of life but for the regular person partaking in regular exercise can feel like a drill, many individual’s don’t have the inner enforcer drive to stick to a routine without letting it fall into monotony.So getting creative and tapping into innate motivations is the key.
It doesn’t have to be a chore for those more inclined to curling up with a good book. Becoming fitter and healthier doesn’t necessarily mean an entire lifestyle overhaul; a handful of simple changes to your daily health regimen can make all the difference to overall health and well-being. Below are five easy solutions that can boost your health and make a lasting difference.
Exercise daily
You don’t have to break a sweat at the gym to get exercise every day. Sometimes it’s the little efforts that really count: take the stairs instead of the lift, walk instead of drive, stroll to the coffee shop down the block instead of getting your caffeine fix in the staff room. Movement of all sorts can warm the muscles and gets the blood flowing.
Keep gear handy
Make sure exercise in on the brain by purchasing equipment – be it trainers, yoga mat or weights – and keeping it in plain sight. Not sure what to buy? Try consulting a buying guide. Visual cues are a trigger to your brain and can help combat competing priorities, such as family and household chores. Physical reminders to keep exercise a priority are extremely helpful, especially in today’s hectic world, and a jump rope on a door can be a wake-up call to get moving.
Friendly classes
Making friends with others in your exercise classes can hugely motivate you to stick to a program. Often the thought of seeing friends is the prime reason many reluctant movers make it to class at all. It’s also smart time management as it offers a social fix while taking part in a physical activity and boosts health and mood, which makes it likelier that you’ll want to exercise again.
Fresh foods
It may seem obvious but processed foods aren’t good for your body as they tend to be high in sugar and low in nutrients. Avoid (or at least limit) the number of ready-made foods in favour of fresher perishable items that will give your body the nourishing fuel it needs and can easily digest.
More small meals
As a society we’re conditioned to eating three meals a day but it’s actually better for our bodies to consume smaller meals more often and can help aid digestion and avoid the snack attacks that send us rushing to the vending machines. Eating smaller amounts regularly can increase mindfulness, enabling you to identify when you’re really hungry. You will soon be able to identify what your body is really hungry for too.
Getting and staying healthy doesn’t necessarily have to be hard work and there are a lot of straightforward and relatively easy adjustments that can be incorporated into everyday life that will bring big health benefits. Fighting disease, trimming your waist, lowering stress levels are all added bonuses to working towards a healthier and more active lifestyle.
Images by Jonathan Rolande and Bruce Guenter used under Creative Commons License.
