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Physical activity when you don't really want to do sport

Published by
October 21, 2019

There are many excuses for not exercising. Some of the popular excuses are that you don't have time or that you just don't want to do it. You lack motivation and you don't think it's fun to exercise. Now that we all know that it's healthy to move, can you be physically active without exercising? The answer is yes!

Break bad inactive habits

Many people have a very inactive lifestyle, driving to work, sitting in front of a screen all day and relaxing on the sofa when they get home before going to sleep. All of a sudden, things happen quickly and many years have passed with that lifestyle. Here it is important to change some habits so that you get some movement into your everyday life. For those who do not like going to a sport or going for a run, some physical activity needs to be incorporated into everyday life, which is more manageable or "hidden" than starting a scheduled exercise class.

The sports world is not for everyone

You don't have to put on your tracksuit to be physically active. Sport is not the same as physical activity. Sport is often about competition - being the strongest or fastest. It often comes with regular injuries and restrictions on food and what you do before or after the sport. Many people feel uncomfortable in the world of sport.

Use your body whenever possible

To be physically active in everyday life without playing sport, you need to start using your body wherever possible. This means that you need to start by thinking through your everyday life to see where your body can do the work instead of a machine. For example, can you walk or cycle all or part of the way to work? Can you walk to a colleague when you have a message instead of sending an email?

What can you do to be more active in your everyday life?

Can you take the stairs instead of the elevator? Can you get up from your office chair and stretch a few times during the working day? Can you walk or cycle when you need to go shopping, pick up children or visit friends? Can you turn off the TV for half an hour to go for a walk? Can you clean yourself instead of the cleaning lady? Can you do a bit of gardening that's been on your to-do list for six months? Can you cook from scratch instead of microwaving a ready-made meal? Can you play with your children in the garden instead of watching? By examining all the everyday routines and adjusting them a little, you can quickly sneak in a lot more movement during the day, without it really making a big difference to your day. This way, you can quickly get some healthier habits and more physical activity into your everyday life without having to put on your sneakers.

By Josefine Huusom