Move for Health Day Should be Everyday
It can be a challenge to find the time to be physically active. In fact, that is the number one reason people give when asked about what limits them from being more active. ‘Move for Health Day’ which happens every May 10th is a great springboard for physical activity – inspiring us to be more active, to try a new activity or connect with local programs and people.
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve seen is to do something that you enjoy and fits your lifestyle. To give you an example, in this office we’ve all got busy schedules and we all approach physical activity a bit differently; one person walks her dog twice a day, another goes for evening runs with a neighbour, I commute by bike, some of us enjoy physical play with our kids and several of us regularly garden and hike. It’s about making the time for something that makes you feel good and when you get right down to it – it’s about making the time for you.
If you don’t know what kind of physical activity you like or if you want to try something new – get in touch with your local recreation centre (find on your local government website here). They usually offer a wide assortment of activities and sometimes have special packages which allow you to sample a variety of programs or activities. Another idea is to partner with a friend who wants to get more active and to try some things together. This has the added benefit of increasing the odds that you will continue. There are several studies that show people are more likely to stick with an activity or exercise program if they do it with a friend.
Physical activity guidelines suggest that adults get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity over the week. To get a sense of what activities are considered moderate or vigorous check out this table.
You can also squeeze extra activity into your day in little ways like taking the stairs, walking instead of driving for short trips, going for a walk on your lunch break or after work, doing yard work, playing backyard soccer instead of watching TV, getting off the bus a couple stops early and…well, you get the idea.
The important thing is to just get out there and move for your health – you’ll feel better that you did.
Rita Koutsodimos
Manager, Advocacy and Communications
May 12, 2011
