Sneak Some Extra Fitness Into Your Day

By Donna Stark 

You lead a busy life but like everyone else, you may find it hard to always get your daily exercise. And even though you do what you can and you try to get those extra steps into your days, sometimes that's not enough. Well, I have some tips for you, but I'm not going to suggest things that you're probably already doing, like taking the stairs and choosing the long way to walk to your coworker's desk. And I am especially not going to tell you to pick the farthest parking spot because let's be real. When you live in the southwest, securing that shade to park your car in and getting inside as fast as possible is a lot more important than grabbing an extra 20 steps.

So instead, I have compiled a short list of practical and easy exercises you can do throughout your day to make up for those 20 steps you sacrifice and to keep you from melting outside in the extreme heat. Take a look.

While Waiting for Your Shower to Warm Up

The transition from a deep sleep to that cold shower in the morning can be rough, so do yourself a favor and tread slowly. Start with some simple stretches, then move on to a few sets of push-ups or planks before starting your day.

While Standing in Front of the Mirror

Kill two birds with one stone! Since you brush your teeth for the recommended two minutes, why not add some squats or calf raises at the same time? Sure, it's not going to make an immediate change, but it definitely won't hurt, and if done consistently, it could help tone your muscles!

While Sitting In Traffic

There is nothing more frustrating than sitting in standstill traffic, especially when you feel time is wasting away. So stop muttering those bad words under your breath and take advantage of the time you have by doing some arm curls. That's right. Keep a light weight in your car and put those arms to work when they aren't busy with the wheel. The key phrase in this scenario though is "standstill traffic." Don't attempt to do this while the car is in motion or when you are driving on the freeway.

While Sitting At Your Desk

There are several exercises you can do at work in-between your meetings or while on the phone. You can strengthen your core muscles and tone your glutes by flexing and unflexing the appropriate muscles. You can also release the tension in your upper back, neck, and shoulders with some intentional shoulder shrugs. Just hold each one for five seconds when they are in the raised position.

Not a Replacement

These moves definitely won't replace your workout at the gym but they will fill in the gaps when you would otherwise be sitting or standing still. So be intentional with those sedentary times and use them to your advantage!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Peoria, Ariz.