The Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that adults get at least 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise a week. Busy adults, however, often balk when they hear this. Where can you possibly find an extra 2.5 hours a week to run on a treadmill?
As it turns out, you don’t have to rearrange your life completely to get the exercise that you need to stay healthy.
10 Minutes at a Time
If you have difficulty committing yourself to an hour, or even half an hour, of exercise, then consider breaking your time into ten-minute activities. You can even spread these activities out through your day.
For instance, taking a ten-minute walk during your lunch break will add up to 50 minutes of exercise a week.
Taking your dog for a ten-minute walk after dinner every night will add 70 minutes to your total. With these two small lifestyle changes, you only have to “exercise” for half an hour a week. You can even include activities such as raking leaves and playing ball with your kids for that final half hour.
Join an Exercise Group
It’s hard to make big lifestyle changes on your own. Consider joining an exercise group that will keep you motivated. If you choose to take a walk during lunch, then recruit your co-workers. That way, you will pressure each other into keeping a schedule that leads to better health.
You can, of course, join a formal exercise class. Consider joining a gym or community center near you that offers classes in aerobics, spinning, yoga and other fun activities. You might even join an intramural sports league.
