I need to get out of my desk chair more, but lately I’ve been trying to walk my neighborhood since the weather’s nice. What kinds of things do you do to stay active? I’d love some suggestions for good stretches and simple/effective exercises. Thanks!
Assuming you work from home the real answer is that you just get up every few minutes and move. It doesn’t matter what. Some squats, pullups, pushups. Even a few hundred steps works wonders.
The key is to make the barrier to entry as low as possible. Then you actually do it more often.
Besides that, find a sport you think would be fun. Just try a bunch of trial lessons or join some people you know.
Gave up on gym membership already. Switched to home workouts (check darebee website and youtube) I feel way better with this compared to the gym. You cant have noodle arms also, so get reasonable dumbbells to grow your arm muscles (they are effective and easy to store also)
It s 40min at most daily from home workouts so you need less mental energy to get to it (compared to: prepare backpack, go to gym, interact with people, go back). I am on the Avatar Upgrade program.
I add early morning walks and occasional hikes to spice things up.
Darebee looks interesting thank you.
I got a puppy. I’ve spent about 30 minutes on my computer since December. But I did also get a Steam Deck.
I alternate between spin bike and weights 6 days/week throughout the year, but with the weather getting nicer, I’m getting back out on my road bike on weekends and playing tennis with some friends after work. It helps to live in a city with a nice park!
Free-use contract
Sounds more like being passive, not active
I refuse to drive or take any form of public transport, unless I am going to be traveling far.
I walk or bike everywhere I go. I get to where I am going and I get exercise along the way. I barely think about it anymore, it has just become normal to me.
During lunch at work, I find I usually eat pretty quick and under the required amount of time for my break so after, I just start running. It gives a nice break from staring at the screen and keeps me healthier.
Juggling. It’s not too intensive or anything but does keep me somewhat active.
I suggest everyone learn to juggle! It’s not TOO hard once you get over the hump and everything clicks. I also find it somewhat meditative.
I have an active job. I still need to add some sort of exercise to my routine.
Treadmill desk
I ride an electric bike instead of driving, gentle exercise but I’m sure it makes a difference. Pokemon go walks, yoga 4x a week at a group class, weightlifting less than once a week. Yardwork too, hauling things around. I got running shoes but have not deployed them yet, I’d like to run once a week only. I do move around a lot. I read somewhere that if you wanted to be fit after you are 50 you really need to exercise 3 hours a day, and it seems true. Not like lifting for 3 hours every day but if I was retired I’d do cardio every morning, lifting every noon, yoga every evening except one day totally off everything each week.
Also, keep a glass of water at your desk. Get up to fill it, drink, get up to pee, repeat. So that you aren’t sitting for too long.
I do yoga multiple times a week, use a rowing machine twice a week, and walk/hike my dogs.
Yoga is the best especially if you are sitting all day. And it’s a nice “third space” where you see the same people every class and make weak links with them that aren’t at home or at work.
Climbing! I’ve never been fond of weightlifting, but lifting myself up on the wall is way more fun! It’s incredibly physical, and there’s an equally important mental problem solving aspect to it. Most cities have a climbing gym these days and it’s a lot more approachable than most people think. Bouldering especially only needs shoes and maybe a chalk bag. Just short but hard climbs that are usually only a few challenging moves. No ropes or harnesses, just big squishy mats to land on. It can also be pretty social with most gyms having a good community, and if you really take to it there’s always room to grow into actual outdoor rock climbing.
Biking for commuting and errands is great as others have mentioned.
Running too. Just needs shoes and some comfy clothes. Even starting at a one km run doesn’t seem like much, but you’ll be surprised how much further you can go if you stick with it.
I was fortunate enough to get invited to a ballroom dancing class in high school and fell in love with it. It’s exercise and a social experience all in one fairly affordable package. Where I live an hour long group class is $10 a head. I wouldn’t do private lessons for these purposes. And if you like it, there are so many subcultures! There are entire groups dedicated to certain dances like West Coast swing and Argentine tango. Regular social dances on the weekends in addition to classes. YMMV based on where you live, but dancing with the stars has brought ballroom into the mainstream and there are quality studios in most decent sized US cities as far as I know.
60ish min in the weights room 5 days a week, 6 days a week 30 min zone 2 cardio. That’s it.