Small steps – big changes: 10 ways to get active each day

360’s Exercise Physiologist, Travis King shares his tips on getting active each day.

Incidental activity – where small amounts of activity are built up over the course of the day – is often underrated. But gradually accumulating activity has been shown to have a variety of health benefits, without the hassle of incorporating a more structured exercise regime.

Our modern lifestyles often make it all too easy to forget about exercising – with many of us driving to work, sitting down all day and then driving home again. But by making small changes to your everyday habits, you can easily get that blood pumping, boost your mood and improve your all-round health.

One solution is to count your steps! Aiming for 10,000 steps each day can help to reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes, can help with weight management, reduce depression symptoms, and so much more.

Here are a few simple ideas to help you increase your steps per day:

1. Park a bit further away from the office or the shopping centre
2. Set a reminder to get up and go for a walk around the office every 45 minutes
3. Grab a buddy and nip out for a walk on your lunch break
4. Sign up for a charity walk – you get to make a difference and have fun whilst getting active!
5. Suggest a walking meeting – you and your colleague both get those steps in, and walking has been proven to help ideas flow,
6. improving productivity – it’s a win-win!
7. Break up chores throughout the day
8. Don’t send that email – get up and talk to your colleague in the office next door
9. Get off the bus one or two stops earlier and walk that little bit further
10. Add some friendly competition – see who can accumulate the most steps each week
11. Whilst waiting for the kettle or microwave, walk around the kitchen and living room

This is just the beginning – there are so many more ways you can increase your steps throughout the day to improve your overall health. If you’re unsure of what to do for your exercise regime, or need some advice on how to put these changes into practice, consult with an exercise physiologist.