Physical inactivity is linked to many common and often preventable diseases. The average person spends the majority of their day sedentary. Many sit at a desk for work and then go home and sit in front of a tv. If you sit for more than 8 hours per day, you are increasing your risk of negative health conditions like heart disease, cancer and Type 2 Diabetes.
To help motivate you to increase your activity during the day, I suggest buying a fitness tracker. Your aim is for 10,000 steps per day. The first day you use the tracker do not alter your regular activity so that you may establish a baseline. A fitness tracker will help keep you accountable and prompt you hourly to get up and move.
Simple ways to increase your daily activity include;
Parking further away from your destination.
Using the stairs, in both directions.
Taking short walking breaks during the day.
I recently read that Steve Jobs liked to walk around his office complex and he particularly enjoyed having meetings in this matter. Interestingly enough, researchers have discovered that walking next to someone creates an almost instantaneous connection. In addition, Stanford University also discovered that walking throughout the day boosts your creativity and problem solving ability. So if you feel self-conscious about taking frequent walking breaks throughout the day, you shouldn’t! Science is on your side!
