How much time per day do you devote to physical activity? Did you know that adults should spend at least 30 minutes a day on physical activity? Here are tips to help you overcome a sedentary lifestyle.

Overcoming your sedentary lifestyle one step at a time

Inactivity refers not only to the absence of physical activity but also to the pursuit of activities that entail no more energy expenditure than resting does. Watching TV, playing video games, and browsing the web are a few examples of contemporary sedentary activities.

Inactivity is not only observed in adults. More and more children and teens are affected by inactivity. There is no need to engage in intense sports activities to improve your quality of life. There are simple things you can do at work and at home to expend energy. Here are some ways to include physical activity in your everyday life:

• Use the stairs instead of the elevator
• Take your dog out for longer walks
• Walk with your children to school and play with them outside
• Dance. Dancing allows you blow off steam and express yourself; it’s also a fun way of being active
• Take up a new sport. Many sports allow you to start slowly and pick up the pace over time
• Get yourself a pedometer (a device that counts the number of steps you take). Did you know that 10,000 steps a day is equivalent to half an hour of walking?

Physical activity: a healthy solution

Physical activity has beneficial effects on your health in many different ways:

1. It improves your cardiovascular health
2. It reduces the risk of developing various diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and many more
3. It improves your mood and favours good mental health
4. It reduces stress and its negative impacts on your health
5. It favours maintenance of muscular strength and supplies the energy you need to carry out your daily tasks

How can the pharmacist help?

A sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for other health problems such as venous insufficiency, strokes, etc. It can also affect the quality of life (hemorrhoids and shortness of breath, for example) and impact our well-being with the appearance of varicose veins, and other problems related to inactivity.

Do you have any questions about the risk factors of a sedentary lifestyle on your health? Consult your pharmacist. He can help you assess whether you are sufficiently active.

It is never too late to get moving. Speak to your healthcare provider about the lifestyle changes you can make in order to increase your level of physical activity safely.

Little changes in your everyday life can make a big difference healthwise. You can overcome your sedentary lifestyle gradually, and every little step counts.

Other tips that may be of interest to you :

• How to stay healthy while working remotely from home
• Fitness: 3 ways to exercise in front of the TV
• 20 good habits that can help you stay healthy