Most of us understand that exercise is good for us. It helps keeps our bodies fit, our weight consistent, and our spirits lifted. But actually keeping up a regular exercise routine is easier said than done. Here are some tips to help you start exercising no matter how lazy you are.
Stand up once an hour
Sometimes you have to start with the basics. We’re all full of excuses about why we can’t make time to exercise, or why our lifestyles are becoming increasingly sedentary. But anyone can commit to standing up at least once an hour to use the bathroom, refill their water glass, or go say hello to a coworker. You have to start somewhere, and standing up more often is as good a starting point as any. By the way, an ergonomic chair can help you relieve back pain from prolonged sitting.
Clean your home more often
This might seem like odd advice to include on a list of exercise tips, but household chores like vacuuming or changing the sheets can actually get your heart pumping. Haven’t you ever broken a sweat while cleaning the bathroom? Exactly. So break out the mop more often—you’ll burn calories, and you’ll get a cleaner house in the process!
Take the stairs
Do you usually take an elevator to where you live or work? Ditch the elevator and start taking the stairs. Climbing stairs raises your heart rate and works your thigh and calf muscles, making stair climbing a great daily exercise. If taking stairs no matter where you go sounds like too much of a struggle, start by changing them daily, then increase to weekly until you're all set.
Walking
Any exercise program should include cardiovascular exercise, which strengthens the heart and burns calories. And walking is something you can do anywhere, anytime, with no equipment other than a good pair of shoes. It's not just for beginners, either: Even the very fit can get a good workout from walking.
Work out at home
If driving to the gym sounds like more work than the actual workout, don’t waste your money on a gym membership. You can work out in the comfort of your own home. There are hundreds of guided exercise videos on YouTube that you can follow, or you can create your own workout. Even doing 15 minutes of sit-ups, pushups, and jumping jacks is a good start.
Start small
A lot of people quit exercising before they even start because they build it up into an all-or-nothing proposition in their heads. You don’t have to go straight from spending nights on your couch to spending a full hour at the gym everyday. Start with something more manageable, like committing to doing 10 pushups and 10 sit-ups every day. We all start somewhere, and pretty soon what was once your workout will become your warm-up.