How to Stand and Move More Without Strenuous Exericse
We all know that, in general, sitting is bad while standing and moving about is good. Our bodies were made to move, but in today’s world, we sit...and sit...and sit some more. We sit in front of the television or laptop. We sit and play on our phones. We sit on our commute. All that sitting has some serious negative health risks, and so doctors recommend that we get up and move as much as we can.
Sometimes, however, when we put the word “exercise” out there, it suddenly seems much more difficult. In order to get up and move more without “exercising” more, check out these tips for sneaking in a little movement.
Get a Pedometer
A pedometer is a very small device that counts your steps. You put a goal number of steps into the device, and it will help you stay on track. This counts everything from the number of steps it takes to walk to the car, the number of steps it takes to walk to the bathroom, and just the number of steps it takes to walk anywhere.
With this simple device, you will suddenly be aware of how many (or how few) steps you take on a daily basis. You’ll quickly find yourself picking up the pace in order to meet your goal, and getting in a lot more movement in the process.
Buy a Standing Desk
Standing desks are desks that are made at a height that is high enough to require standing at all times. If you were to try and sit at a standing desk, you wouldn’t be able to use it properly. Putting a standing desk at work or even at home can add some additional time on your feet. If it is at home, it might even discourage so much time spent online. Spending just a little bit more time standing and a little less time sitting can bring some healthy benefits to your life and cut those negative sitting benefits significantly.
Park at the Back
Are you that person that drives around the parking lot waiting for a close spot to open up? To get in a bit more walking, just pick a spot at the back and walk. This adds more steps than you think, as we are busy enough for this to warrant a few extra trips a day. Similarly, you can also try taking the stairs instead of the elevator and walking to nearby locations when they are near enough instead of immediately hopping in the car.
Moving a little more doesn’t have to mean that you make an extra stop at the gym. It can be a lot more simple than that. While getting in more exercise will definitely help, just moving more in general will be a great step in the right direction. Use these tips to move more without even thinking about it.
Image Credit:
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Saxbald Street Photography
