Healthy Exercise
Physical activity and exercise can do wonders for your physical and mental health.
The benefits of physical activity include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Offering protection from heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and various cancers
- Assisting us maintain a healthy mind - exercise releases endorphins which can reduce feelings of anxiety and stress and help us feel more positive and energised
Here are some tips to get more exercise into your life (remember to check with your doctor, if you are overweight or over 40 years of age or have any serious health condition, to determine what is suitable exercise for you):
- If you are commuting to work, try getting off a stop earlier and walk that last stop. You will increase your steps with little effort. Maybe you could walk, run or cycle to work.
- Leave your desk at lunch time even if it is only for 10 minutes and go for a walk or a gym class. Take time to relax and breathe fresh air!
- Make an exercise appointment in your diary. Schedule some time each week for you to do an exercise class, go for a walk, run or cycle.
- Have a standing meeting or even a walking meeting with your colleagues.
- Join a gym - for some people actually paying for the membership means they will attend.
- Start with small steps. Have a five minute walk every second day to start and then increase it each week until you are going for a daily walk of 15+ minutes.
- Bring a friend along. It is much more fun to exercise with company and you are more likely to exercise if you have committed to a friend.
- Take the stairs at work. You may like to start with a single flight initially and build up. Putting incidental exercise into your work day is a great way to improve your health and fitness.
- Try a dance class.
Whatever you do, have fun and remember to just start!