A new year can inspire us to make a fresh start. This time of year often comes with annual “resolutions.” A New Year’s Resolution is really just a committed effort to make a plan to do something good for ourselves and stick to it! Common resolutions include improving on health and fitness goals like exercising more, drinking more water and making healthy food choices.
Gym memberships increase every January when people are excited to make changes but the initial excitement drops quickly. The good news is that you don’t need a gym membership to improve on your fitness goals. There are many fun and free ways to get FIT and make positive changes this year.
- Get moving with your pet - If you have a dog, you know they are full of energy and need to move. Let your pooch take the lead and motivate you into some fun and productive activity. It will do you both some good!
- Add some movement into your conversation - Instead of sitting to talk or meet with a friend or colleague, go for a walk and talk! Being active increases our heart rate and this type of energy often gets the creative juices flowing.
- Fill in with fitness - There are many things we can add into our daily routine to increase our activity. Think about ways to move your body while you are watching TV, reading or even brushing your teeth. A few sets of sit-ups or jumping jacks can fill commercial time. Squats are easy to do while brushing your teeth, and it’s simple to tap your toes or move your arms and legs while you're enjoying a good book.
- Turn up the tunes - Try turning on the radio while you are cooking or cleaning. These are common household activities that already have you moving but music will help you take it up a notch! Hearing the right song with a good beat can inspire you to pick up the pace or add in a few funky moves which are sure to get your heart pumping.
- Give yourself a challenge - Think about adding in some small challenges to increase your daily exercise. Instead of claiming the closest parking space, choose one a little further away so you can get in a few more steps. Similarly, the elevator is convenient but taking the stairs will work the muscles in your legs!
- Set a timer - A little reminder goes a long way! Set a timer every hour to get up from your desk and stretch or do some leg lifts. If you are enjoying a good book, make a plan to get some movement in before starting a new chapter. You can really challenge yourself by setting your morning alarm a few minutes early so you can squeeze in some gentle stretching.
