Walking more doesn't always equal treadmill

As we discussed last month, higher activity levels and step counts (6,000+) are better for you. There is plenty of data to suggest a strong correlation between activity level and life expectancy, and more activity generally makes it easier to maintain healthy body fat levels. But life can be busy, and not everyone wants to spend their time on he treadmill.

So, here’s a few simple way you can begin to increase your activity levels, treadmill free.

1. Park further away (or walk) to the shops: This ones one of my favourites. Why? Because you’re going to the shops either way. Parking further away doesn’t take any extra effort, and isn’t going to cost you much more time. You may even save some time as you won’t have to fight for spots when they’re further away.

2. Go for a brief morning or evening walk (outside). A quick troll in the morning is a great way to setup yourself up for successful day. It can be a nice way to gently wake yourself up, and is a whole lot better than sitting in bed, scrolling through social media. On the flip side, an evening walk is an excellent way to de-stress from a busy day, and can act as a transition point from work time to personal time. Whichever you choose, start small. 10-15 minutes, or just around the block.

3. Take up a social sport with friends. No only does sport increase daily activity, it also adds in a little bit of cardiovascular training, which is beneficial for heart health. Taking up a sport with friends brings a community aspect to exercise, making it more enjoyable. You’ll stick with it longer.

4. Get involved with your children. Teaching your kids to play a sport, ride their bikes, skate at the skate park or just play with them on the playground (you’ll be surprised how much energy it takes to chase around some kids)