Small steps...
Making long term changes requires small steps and short term goals.
Here are ideas to get you started:
Build small "active" changes into your daily routine. Take the stairs. Park farther away. Walk or bike to your destination. Sit on a exercise ball instead of a chair while watching TV or sitting at your desk. Play outside with you kids. Walk your dog longer (or walk faster), Do squats or lunges while waiting for your food in the microwave.
Change your routine. Go for a walk with a friend instead of meeting for coffee. Have "Walking Meetings" at work for small groups. Clean your house regularly. Walk the golf course; ditch the cart. Build date night around dancing, not dining.
Use community resources. Find out what's available right in your community. Howard County has been recognized as one of the healthiest places to live in America! We have miles and miles of pathways, lakes and recreational facilities. But, we also have an abundance of wellness related community events, health fairs, community celebrations and lakefront concerts. There is virtually always something interesting to do every week if you know where to look! Check out the calendar
Track your physical activity minutes. Yes, we hope that you will join your community in our collective goal to log 2,000,000 minutes. But, setting your personal goal and tracking your minutes, will also help you to measure your progress. This will become your benchmark for adding more small changes and goals.
Try something new. How many times have you said, "I want to learn how to...Play Tennis, Racket ball, Golf, Yoga...? It's time to take a small step. Call a friend and wipe the cobwebs from your tennis racket. Check out the Get Active Howard County calendar and register for a FREE beginning Yoga class. Show up on Saturday at the FREE "Boot Camp in the Park". It's the perfect physical activity for all ages and fitness levels.
HERE ARE SOME GREAT LINKS FROM "Go4Life"
Go4Life is an exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH. It's designed to help you fit exercise and physical activity into your daily life.
Getting Started: What’s Your Fitness Level?
Try these exercises