Most people have it clear that to lead a healthy lifestyle they must integrate even a simple physical activity into their routine. It’s a piece of empirical knowledge: exercising helps your health, not exercising hurts you. Easy, right?
However, even though it is something that most of us know, that does not mean that we really do it. We are all so immersed in our busy lives that what little free time we have we want to use to rest. Moving the body sounds like the opposite of that. I understand, but the truth is that it is not impossible to add a simple exercise routine to your life and the benefits will be totally worth it.
Of course, to integrate exercise into your life despite your work, it’s advisable to have a good notion of organization. Luckily for you, we have a variety of articles on time management techniques both conventional and for people who don’t like very strict methods. Check them if you need to!
But once you are a little more focused on your schedules to do your work and you have made room for that precious and important time to clear up, we can get down to business.
In most cases, people don’t start exercising due to a lack of motivation. They have other priorities, other interests, and their time is spent on other kinds of things, leaving aside the care of our most intimate temple: the body.
But, if you were thinking “What’s so great about exercising anyway?” Well, we will tell you.
Reduces the Risk of Heart Disease
Exercising regularly strengthens your heart and improves your circulation. As blood flow increases, oxygen levels in your body rise, and this helps lower the risk of diseases such as high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, and heart attack, as well as lower blood pressure and blood levels. triglycerides.
Delays Aging
Of course, this is a figurative way of saying that it helps to keep the body in good condition. Everyone, if lucky, will age, but we can bet on a healthier and longer life if we exercise frequently, since exercise stimulates the body to release proteins and other chemicals that improve the function of the brain, thus maintaining the ability of thinking, learning, and judgment over time. It also strengthens bones and muscles, decreases loss of bone density, and increases strength.
Improves Mental Health
When you exercise, your body releases chemicals that can improve your mood and make you feel more relaxed, so it helps you cope with stress and reduce your risk of depression, which we all do well to consider. Not to mention that exercising, as we all know, helps with weight control and muscle toning, and this usually has a good influence on people’s self-image and self-esteem
These are just some of the benefits of exercising regularly, if you want to know more, you can read this article by Healthline. Now, you can see that it’s tremendously important for improving your life quality to do a little physical activity.
But, even so, just to emphasize the importance, we have to mention that the disadvantages of not exercising are not only not obtaining its pros, but that the body needs that activity, therefore, it will deteriorate and degenerate over time, unless you take care of it as it needs to.
This can lead to things like increased blood pressure, deterioration in heart condition, worsening blood circulation, breathing problems, muscle wasting, fluid retention, and sagging skin.
That doesn’t sound good at all, right? To avoid this and lead a much healthier life while still being the efficient professional that you are, here are some tips:
Seize Every Little Opportunity
What do I mean by this? Well, there are moments in the day that, no matter how minimal, offer you the opportunity to move your body a little and get it out of the constant state of rest. This is, for example, if you work in an office, walk there, or ride a bike. Even if you take the bus or go by car, you can park or get off earlier, and walk a few blocks until you reach your office.
If you can do some things while standing, like having your cup of coffee, answering your calls, or saying something to your co-workers (instead of sending them a WhatsApp), get up and do it standing. This way, more calories are burned. And especially, climb all stairs you find on your way!
Do Stretches
Most of us spend most of our day sitting at a desk or even using the computer from bed, in bizarre positions that contract our muscles and cause pain.
Stretching every once in a while every workday is proven to reduce sore muscles. To stretch your neck, you can tilt your head so that your ear is about to touch your shoulder, and then gently press your hand toward the shoulder, and repeat on each side.
Another area of the body that is normally tense is the back, along with the back of the thighs, of course. To stretch this area, move your chair away from the desk and put your foot on it so that the leg is straight. Lean into your leg until you feel the stretch in the back of your leg. Then repeat with the other leg.
Start A Fitness Challenge With Co-Workers
It’s always easier to carry out an activity for which you don’t have much motivation if you are accompanied by nice people. A great option for this is to start an exercise challenge with your co-workers.
In our case, we have an activity called FitLance, in which once a month all members of the company who so wish can enter an exercise session by video call with coach Luis Santander, and exercise together. This has had a great influence on the motivation of our workers to exercise regularly.
Do Sitting / Lying Exercises
There are several exercises that you can do while in a position of relative rest. For example, while sitting you can perform various stretching exercises for the waist, back, pyramidal area, and thighs.
You can take ideas here. Lying down you can also do exercises that stretch your muscles, and help you take advantage of moments of rest at home to stay healthy as well.
With these tips to exercise, although you will not be a bodybuilder, you can surely begin to become aware of your physical health and help your body in its unique and special task: to stay alive.
Allow yourself to pause and give your body the attention it deserves. You will return to work more productive, clear, and healthy. There are no more acceptable excuses, exercise!
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