Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle
Regular physical activity reduces health risks such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes. But more importantly, exercise allows you to feel better on a daily basis.
It helps control weight, contributes to healthy bones and joints, and allows you to sleep more soundly. People who exercise regularly have been shown to have fewer hospitalizations and less anxiety or depression. You need not train for marathons. Thirty minutes to one hour of moderate-intensity physical activity five or more times per week is all that is required. Moderate-intensity can be walking briskly, vigerous work, or whatever causes a small but continuous increase in heart rate.
There are 1440 minutes in every day. Take an opportunity to see how you can squeeze in thirty minutes of physcial activity; here are some examples:
- Walk, cycle, jog, or skate to work, school, the store, or place of worship.
- Park the car farther away from your destination.
- Get on or off the bus several blocks away.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
- Play with pets.
- Dance to music.
- Join a sports team or any club where activity is emphasized.
- Walk while doing errands.