How To Get Active Outside Of Workouts (how to be more active everyday)

When it comes to staying fit and healthy, it isn’t always about the gym. GASP. What?! Take a breath, it’s true. I love the gym, I’m a fitness junkie and truly love exercise. (here are my favorite goals for the gym outside of weight loss!) Buuuttt it’s only part of the equation. The truth is, you’ve got to set active, not just workout.

When people think of staying healthy they think of working out (and often not in a positive way). So many people have to mindset that exercise is punishment. That you must be hardcore, workout hours per day and until you vomit in order to be lean or healthy.
Which is wrong to me on SO many levels.

Don’t get me wrong, I adore my workouts. But let’s be clear about something: I do not spend hours in the gym and when I do, there is no vomiting. I prefer to enjoy my time there thank you.

However, it’s not just my time in the gym that keeps me healthy, it’s what I do outside the gym that keeps me fit (like carrying these two munchkins!)

Let me explain: while getting your exercise on for one hour a day is great, the other twenty-three hours of the day matter!

It’s pretty silly to only move off from the couch, chair, car for only sixty minutes a day. That’s hardly enough to keep your muscles young, your joints moving. You need more.

However, this doesn’t mean more gym time, just more movement! 

Your random movements add up through the day.

Let me repeat that: random movements add up through the day and make a huge difference in your health and wellness

Which means that to be fit and healthy you need to get active throughout the day. Not to worry, it’s not as challenging as you’re thinking.

Below are some easy ways to boost your activity at random intervals throughout the day. If you’re just starting out these may seem odd. They will eventually however, be second nature once you get into the habit of moving throughout your day.

Walk

Sound simple doesn’t it? But getting outside for a walk is insanely beneficial. Walking and moving helps your food digest. It boosts your movement for the day and getting outside in nature has it’s own set of benefits. It’s the easiest thing you can do to get active.

People have found that being outside helps boost your mood. And we all know that exercise comes with endorphins. So, keep it simple and just walk more!

Play with your kids

I can hear some of you gasping. I DO play with my kids. I don’t mean to offend anyone, really, it’s not my goal. But playing with your kids is a great form of exercises.

I’m all for puzzles, games and coloring but I also believe you should climb on the park equipment, play tag, hide and seek, pull wagons and go tobogganing.

Not only will you get the benefits of playtime, but you’ll also have an awesome relationship with your kids.

House Work

As much as I totally slack on this- clean your house! Vacuuming, mopping and tidying all get you moving. Remember the goal isn’t intensity it’s just to get active throughout your day.

Bike Riding

Most of us live within a quick bike ride of whatever errand they want to run. Instead of jumping in the car, bike! That extra five minutes makes a big difference. It gets your blood pumping, your muscles working and it’s one more thing that keeps you fit.

Take The Stairs

You’ve heard this one before and I’m going to add to it: don’t just bounce off the ball of your foot by climbing the stairs, use your full foot and step through!

This helps activate the entire leg and gives you more band for your buck. But seriously, take the stairs more. It’s a simple thing you can do that adds up.

Yard work

Do you know how much work gardening is?! Lots. It gets your outside, moving, carrying and bending. Gardening, raking leaves, shoveling snow- all things that need to be done and keep you active and healthy.

All great activities supplementary to a solid training program. The stronger you are, the less likes you are to injure yourself while performing them.

Find something you love

A hockey team, a Zumba class, tap dance or ninja. If you have an activity you look forward to it won’t be working out. This can be in addition to your regularly scheduled workouts o help you get active.

Get excited about staying active and being able to do things you enjoy. Exercise and movement aren’t a punishment but a reward. Not all of us are able to exercise.

Make Better Dates

Dates with friends and with partners always center around food. A lot of sitting and sometimes chatting (coffee, lunch, dinner, food
show etc.).

Make better dates. Instead, grab a girl friend and go for a walk. Go hiking with the hubby. Try a new group or sport with a group of friends.

Whatever it is, just make it some sort of movement. You don’t need to give up your friends in order t be fit and healthy but sometimes it is worth asking if you’re being supported. Like minded friends go a long way.

Coffee Time Stretch

If you have ten minutes for a coffee break, stretch! This sounds so beyond corny but just getting up and moving from your desk helps wake up your muscles no need to go into a whole downdog just move. Walk about, stretch your chest.

Creepy people like me drop into squats, do some hinges and rotate but there’s no need to be that kind of freak 😀 The basics will suffice

Embrace The Random

If you’ve caught up with me on Instagram you’ll bear witness to my random spurts of arm balances, pull ups, high knees or even medicine ball slams. The truth is, I get bored easily. When I’m playing with the girls I do something sporadic and fun.

When I’ve spent the morning writing I take a break to do some slams and warm up my muscles. You most definitely don’t have to be intense about this, I just hate sitting for long and like to remind my muscles they work.

From a day to day perspective this just helps bump up your activity level. It keeps it fun.

What I’m trying to impress upon you is that every little bit makes a difference. Being healthy isn’t just about your workouts but about your lifestyle. Humans weren’t made to live on the couch, sit in cars or at table all day. We were made to move. Don’t think you need to spend hours in the gym, make what you do outside of the gym work for you. Get active, fit and healthy by moving throughout the day (and maybe even possible enjoying it!), not just during your gym sessions.

Don’t forget to pin these tips to help you get active!