With long work days, household tasks, and family responsibilities, many of us cannot find a moment in the day to stop for a few deep breaths, let alone set aside half an hour for a complete workout. Commonly, those who are not exercising will experience an increase in health complaints, worsening of existing symptoms, weight gain, and more stress. For most people who average 6 hours of sleep a night, waking early to go for a morning jog or hit the gym is not an option. After work, dinner needs to be prepared, the house tidied, children need help with homework, and the work you brought home from the office needs to be looked over, which doesn’t leave much time to exercise before bed. When we are busy and stressed, we often forget to exercise, but these times are when exercise is most important. Here are some reasons we need to include exercise into our daily routine:

• Increases metabolism, which burns more calories, and enhances weight loss.
• Reduces risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
• Increases bone density, decreasing the risk of osteoporosis.
• Increases good cholesterol (HDL.)
• Improves sleep patterns.
• Increases efficiency of digestion.
• Reduces stress.
• Decreases feelings of anxiety and depression.
• Maintains muscle mass, healthy bones, joint mobility, and flexibility, which is especially important as we age.
• Creates a sense of well-being and accomplishment.
• Increases energy levels.
• Strengthens the immune system.
• Eases chronic pain.
• The list goes on and on…

If you find yourself unable to devote a large chunk of time to exercise, try breaking it up into short spurts throughout the day. If you make it part of your daily routine, you’ll be more likely to comply, and it won’t even feel like exercise! Here are some easy ways to add a little exercise to your life:

• Walk to the corner store instead of driving.
• Mow the grass with a push lawn mower.
• Go for a brisk walk instead of a leisurely stroll. You can even incorporate this while shopping.
• Sit up while watching TV instead of lying down.
• Stand or walk around the house while talking on the phone.
• Get off the bus/subway one or two stops earlier and walk the rest of the way.
• While making dinner, put on some fun music and dance around.
• Skip the escalator and take the stairs.
• When watching TV, get up and move during every commercial break. You can even add some squats or sit-ups.
• If you work in a high-rise or live in a condo, get off the elevator a few floors before your destination and take the stairs the rest of the way.
• Park in the back of the lot and walk to the building.
• At work, take periodic breaks. Every hour, get up and walk a lap around the office.
• At lunch, spend 10 minutes walking around the block/office building
• Instead of calling or emailing a co-worker, walk the their work station to talk to them.
  

If you try even a few of the above-mentioned recommendations, you’ll be amazed how much time you actually spend moving and how much healthier you feel!