Tips for Adding in More Movement in Your Day

Let's face it, we all lead busy lives. Sometimes being "too busy" can be an excuse for many things like not fitting in exercise or making it a point to eat healthier meals.

In an age where there tends to be a glorification of busy - you know, almost bragging about how busy someone is - I think we are overlooking the bigger issues of being "too busy" especially when it comes to our health and well-being.

I think that there is often a misconception that when someone is getting in daily workouts, that they must somehow have extra time. My answer to that is that no one just has the time, they make the time. Somehow, some way, they figure out a way. And sometimes that means being creative.

Even when we have a jam packed day, there are  ways in which we can still add in extra movement throughout day. You might not have time to do a 30-minute workout, but you probably have 5 and 10 minutes of time here and there. And that time, those little bits of movement, they add up. There's no rule that a workout has to be a certain duration to be effective.

Grand things are built on the littlest of things. You can't have a home without nails, boards, wiring. You can't have a garden without starting with seeds and soil. So health and fitness are the same way. They start with the little things that can add up over time.

Here are just a few things you can do daily to add in more movement throughout your day:

• Take the stairs

• Stand up at your desk to work

• Get up and step away from your desk every 20-30 minutes (if not standing)

• Do pushups, squats, lunges and/or sit ups during commercial breaks 

• Do 2 rounds of tabata for a 10-minute workout

• Take your dog(s) for a walk around the block

• Walk for 10 minutes during your lunch break

• Park at the far end of the parking lot

• Walk or bike to work (if you can)

How do you manage to add in extra movement during your day?