Staying active is essential for both our physical and mental health. In the past, daily life naturally involved more movement, but modern conveniences and sedentary jobs have made it easier than ever to stay seated for long stretches. Office work, along with leisure activities like watching TV, socializing at the pub, playing online games, or reading, often keeps us sitting for hours.
That doesn’t mean we should give up our favorite pastimes. Enjoying hobbies and spending time with friends is crucial for our overall happiness. The key is to be mindful and break up long periods of sitting with movement.
If you’re looking to incorporate more activity into your day, here are some simple strategies to try.
Instead of sending an email to a colleague, walk over to their desk. This not only gets you moving but also helps build stronger workplace relationships. Just be sure not to interrupt too often.
Hydration is another easy way to stay active. Set hourly reminders to drink water and use the opportunity to walk to the kitchen. If you’re in an office, offer to make drinks for others too. Plus, drinking more water means more bathroom breaks—another reason to get up and move.
We often forget to move because we get absorbed in work or entertainment. Browser extensions like Pomodoro timers can help by breaking your day into focused work sessions with regular breaks. Other tools can simply remind you to stand up and stretch every hour.
Your commute is another chance to add movement. Walk to a farther bus stop or get off one stop early. If you drive, park farther from the entrance. Feeling ambitious? Try walking or cycling the whole way—you’ll get exercise and save money.
Fitness trackers and smartwatches can help you monitor your activity. Knowing how many steps you’ve taken makes it easier to stay on track. Many devices even send gentle reminders to move if you’ve been inactive for too long.
So, how will you start adding more movement to your day? Pick a few of these tips and give them a try. The most important thing is to begin—and there’s no better time than today.
