Movement is fantastic for your health. The benefits are endless — including a life lived healthier and happier for longer, with less pain and a lower risk for chronic diseases. However, incorporating movement into your day can be tough for a variety of reasons, such as working at a desk and commuting. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most individuals are sedentary for 21 hours per day (including sleeping). That’s a lot of time not moving! To combat this and promote the benefits of movement, we created the Move More initiative.
Move More aims to create awareness and promote movement to break up periods of sitting throughout the workday. This initiative is important to not only the physical and mental health of all people, but also the long-term productivity and efficiency of the workforce.
Our goal is to empower others to move more every day. We all know the why behind its importance, but sometimes it is the how or when that are the barriers to moving throughout the day. Whether you fall into this category or you are looking for new ways to move, below are some easy, creative ways to add more movement to your day — no matter where you are!
- Go to your local park or trail
- Sign up for an organized activity at your local gym or community center
- Wherever you go, arrive early and park farther away
- Stand up or walk while taking a phone call
- Get up every hour and stretch for 30 seconds
- Go on a walk or move for a few minutes after you eat
- Do one small chore around your house every day
- Take the stairs
- Walk or pace back and forth while you brush your teeth
- Change your mode of transportation when you can: walk, bike or take the train/bus instead of driving
For additional ideas, check out the following resources:
- Live daily stretches via webcam
- Family scavenger hunts
- Printable desk-stretch cards
- NEAT Bingo card: a fun way to add more no exercise activity to your routine this month
Make movement a top priority every day. It doesn’t have to feel difficult, and you don’t have to sweat or breathe hard. You just have to move!