subject: Make Your Day Healthier by Walking More [print this page] Make Your Day Healthier by Walking More Make Your Day Healthier by Walking More
Everyone is very busy these days. With all that is going on around us, it is no surprise that many people have trouble finding time to work out. Thankfully, there are ways to exercise without setting aside a huge chunk of your day. If you take a few minutes here and there to get some walking in while at work, you will find that your efforts can really add up. Try a few of these tips to create your own walking based office workout.
1. Walk Instead of Smoking: If you are used to taking a ten minutes smoke break every now and then, try giving that time a different use. Spend the time walking. You will burn off some extra calories that way, plus it will keep you from engaging in a very unhealthy activity.
2. Skip the Best Parking Spot: Purposefully park your car a block or two away from where you work. This will make sure you have to walk a little bit before and after work. This is an easy office workout that won't interfere with your workday. Make sure to plan ahead and bring an umbrella if the weather looks bad.
3. Work for Your Bus: Instead of hopping off your bus right in front of where you work, get off a stop or two earlier. The same principle can be applied when you go home: either get on a stop later or get off before you reach your house. Either way you can get in some extra steps.
4. Use the Stairs: This is a really easy office workout. Instead of riding the elevator to your floor, take the stairs. Going up a few flights of stairs will get your heart pumping and your blood moving. It might even burn a few calories, too. If your office is thirty floors above the entrance, try taking the elevator to a floor that is four or five stops below your office and take the stairs from there. You can build up the amount that you climb as you become more fit.
5. Go Say Hi: Instead of emailing or calling your colleagues, get up out of your chair and walk down the hall to see them. Whether you need to talk about a project or just want to chat, walking down the hall will give your legs a break from sitting all day.
6. Group Walks: You can organize a group walking session with your co-workers during a break, or even during your lunch to get everyone involved. It is far more motivating when others are involved than just by yourself, plus it's more fun as well.
The more steps you can take in a day, the better. If you like the idea of having an office workout based around walking, you might want to invest in a pedometer to keep track of the steps you take. Watching your progress throughout time might motivate you to keep walking.
