People often associate the term “staying active” with working out at the gym. However, staying active simply means moving your body more. Running around the track at a local park, swimming in your community’s pool, riding a bike down the street and even walking around a mall are just a few of the “out of the box” ways to get exercise.
1. Running
Running is one of the easiest ways to stay active and it offers many health benefits. Running improves cardiovascular health, builds muscle strength, increases bone density, reduces stress and burns calories. In addition, running is great because it can be done anywhere. Whether you want to go to a local park and run a few laps around the track or run around the yard with your dog, running is a fantastic way to stay in shape this summer. To make it more exciting, you can time yourself or race against a friend or family member.
2. Walking
If you’d rather do something easier and less intense, walking is your best option. Since walking is less vigorous than running, walk longer to get the same health benefits. To make walking more interesting and help the time go by faster, try shopping at a mall or an outdoor market. You’ll forget that you’re even exercising!
3. Swimming
A great way to stay active and cool this summer is to go swimming. Swimming builds endurance, improves cardiovascular health, builds muscle strength, tones muscles, helps maintain a healthy weight and provides an all-over body workout. Swimming in a community pool is a great option, but if you don’t have access to one, you can always go to the beach, a lake or even a river; just make sure that you are swimming in a safe environment.
4. Riding a Bike
Riding a bike for 30-60 minutes a day is a great way to stay fit and healthy. Cycling has just as many health benefits as running, including improved posture and coordination, increased muscle strength and flexibility, decreased body fat levels and reduced anxiety and depression. Riding a bike is also easy to fit into your daily routine. The next time you go to the grocery store, work or anywhere else that you regularly go, try riding your bike instead of driving your car. Riding your bike is time-efficient, good for your overall health and great for the environment.
5. Gardening
Gardening has more health benefits than you might think. It is a great way to work new muscles and actually helps build stamina as well as improves flexibility. Not only will your parents or grandparents appreciate the help, but you will feel accomplished after looking at all the hard work you’ve done.
6. Playing Sports
Playing sports is a fun way to stay active. Basketball, volleyball, tennis and soccer are a few of the sports that you can play at home or at a local park. Benefits include improved mood, improved concentration, improved sleep habits and reduced stress. The best part about sports is that you can have fun with others while improving your overall health.
7. Going to the Beach
Going to the beach provides you with a variety of ways to stay active. Running, swimming, playing beach volleyball and doing yoga are some of the many ways to incorporate exercise into your day at the beach. Going to the beach with friends or family can make working out at the beach even more fun!
8. Doing Yoga
If you’d rather not go outside to exercise, yoga is a great option that can be done indoors. Yoga has many health benefits, including lowered blood pressure, reduced insomnia, increased flexibility, increased muscle strength, improved respiration and improved athletic performance. Yoga With Adriene is a YouTube channel that features many yoga videos for people of all skill levels. Most of her videos are 10 to 20 minutes long, making them easy to fit into your daily schedule.
9. Cleaning
Another indoor exercise that few people think of is cleaning. Doing some cleaning around your house is actually a great way to stay active since you’re constantly moving. Washing windows, sweeping and mopping floors, scrubbing showers and sinks and even taking out the trash can be good for your cardiovascular health. And if you live with others, doing these exercises will more than likely earn you some brownie points!
