Daily Activities for Health and Fitness

Daily Activities for Fitness

Exercise can come from everyday activities such as housework, gardening, and walking to the shops. Taking the stairs, stretching, dancing, playing with children, and walking everywhere all build fitness and burn kilojoules. An active lifestyle is key to good health and weight management.

To stay healthy, we need to be active every day in as many ways as possible. Being active in small ways throughout the day can make a big difference. Short bouts of 10 minutes can be beneficial when they add up to 30 minutes on most days of the week. You can plan physical activity by going to the gym or playing sports. There are many everyday activities that provide opportunities to be active and improve health.

Make a habit of walking or cycling instead of using the car, or do things yourself instead of using labor-saving machines. The human body was designed to move, but modern technology has reduced many opportunities for movement.

Reducing Car Use

Cars reduce how much we walk. Suggestions include:

• Walk to the corner shops instead of driving.
• Cycle to work one or two days every week.
• Walk to the bus stop or train station and take public transport to work.
• If taking the bus or tram, get off one stop early and walk the rest of the way.
• Park the car a fair distance from the entrance of the shops and walk, rather than parking right out front.
• Wash and vacuum the car yourself instead of taking it to a car wash.

Physical Activity at Home

Suggestions include:

• You might enjoy housework more if you think about the kilojoules you’re burning while vacuuming and mopping.
• Listen to your favorite music or the radio and dance around the house.
• Play actively with your children.
• Walk the dog more often, or make your usual walk 10 minutes longer.
• Work in your garden: mow, rake leaves, and plant.
• Incorporate more physical activities into your family’s leisure time, such as taking the children to the park or kicking a ball around the backyard.

Where to Get Help

Your doctor