How to Integrate Fitness into Your Everyday Life

We are all aware that exercise is a key contributor towards our health and happiness. As well as releasing numerous endorphins post-exercise, it is also associated with a more productive lifestyle, better quality of sleep and an improved mood. However, a large proportion of professionals have great difficulty finding the time to juggle a hectic working life with their personal one, and they often find that they neglect themselves and their fitness.

This is all the more important now that more and more people are working in sedentary environments, where the majority of the day is sat in front of a computer, without an extended opportunity to exercise. It goes without saying that this lifestyle can lead to increased risks of heart disease, diabetes and ultimately, premature death.

There has also been researching to suggest that while an hour of intense exercise a day is good for you, it does not completely combat the adverse effects of sitting at a desk all day. Ideally, you need to ensure that you are moving throughout the day, and not just during the hour that you spend at the gym. If you are looking for ways in which you can incorporate exercise into your everyday life, then take a look at the following suggests.

Ditch the Lift

If you work in an office, then this is a great way of ensuring that you are burning calories at different points during the day. Rather than opting for the lift, make sure that you take the stairs one at a time. It has been suggested that it is more advantageous to take every single step as opposed to climbing several steps at once. If you find that by the time you reach your desk you are sweating and out of breath, don’t worry, this is normal and will only get easier over time.

Use the Cycle Lane

We are all more than aware just how tempting it is to take the bus or tube into work, but remember that it is indeed possible to benefit from cycling to and from work. More and more places of work are opting for schemes whereby the employee receives incentives for cycling to work, rather than taking public transport. It is hardly a surprise that more and more health-conscious members of Generation Y are opting to hit the cycle lane; there are even brands of urban cycling clothing that specifically target this demographic who are keen to look sharp out on the road.

Walk the Walk

Another good way to boost your activity levels is to commit to regularly walking as opposed to sitting down. If you are wondering how to integrate this into your professional life, rather than having a catch-up with a colleague around a table, why not suggest getting out into the fresh air and taking a brisk walk while you have your catch-up? If you are looking for another excuse, then the University of Stanford has conducted research that suggests that walking actually improves your creativity when compared to sitting at a desk or around a table.

Stay Hydrated

There are numerous benefits associated with staying properly hydrated throughout the course of the day. Dehydration can lead to decreases in both physical and mental performance, leaving you to feel lethargic and irritable. Another important consideration is the fact that drinking water actually aids weight loss due to the fact that water can increase satiety and boost your metabolism.

There’s An App For That

If you are one of those people who requires the comfort and guidance of an app, then luckily there are plenty available for those of you who are looking to integrate fitness into your everyday lifestyle. Fitnet is a perfect workout app for those who are unable find the time to go to a gym or immerse themselves in the joys of running outdoors. The nifty little app allows you to choose between a wide selection of five and seven-minute workouts, allowing those who are limited on time the chance to workout whenever is convenient for them.

Plan Something Different

While we all like to woo our loved ones with dinner dates, candles, and drinks, it can get somewhat repetitive after an amount of time, not to say expensive. With this in mind, why not look at trying something different and turn your date into a workout? If you think it would go down well, suggest going to an hour long spinning class instead, this will burn in excess of 700 calories and is a great way to have a laugh together. Alternatively, you could look to try out a circuit class, which will burn around 400 calories.