Professional Personal Trainer and Massage Therapist Helen Wilkinson is on a mission to get us work-from-home types up off our butts and out there exercising. If the thought of getting out of your comfy swivel chair fills you with dread then read on… she’s got a few ides that might inspire you.Last month I wrote about why exercise is of such benefit; so hopefully you are now keen to get started. It may require a little bit of effort on your part but once it becomes part of your routine, and you see the benefits, I am sure you will be keen to keep it going.
The key here then is to consciously make a few minor changes to your every day routine to incorporate an increase in your activity level.
One way to do this is to get on or off the bus or tube a stop earlier and walk the extra distance. If you drive, can you park your car a mile or two away from work and walk in the rest of the way?
How about cycling to work? Or you could use the stairs instead of lifts wherever possible. Or walk that little bit further to get your lunch rather than using the sandwich shop just round the corner.
These are a few ways of increasing your activity level without too much extra effort. Now let’s focus on introducing some more structured exercise into your routine.
Don’t think of exercise as having to take hours. As little as a brisk thirty-minute walk, five times a week, will provide some major health benefits – including longer life expectancy and reduced risk of heart disease.
Try running, or power walking, from home; it is extremely time efficient and inexpensive.
Exercise doesn’t have to involve a haul to the gym, though this is, in fact, a very good way to start a more demanding programme as there are professionals on hand to put you on the right track. If you do join a gym, choose one that is close to home or work and go en-route. This is time saving and means you are more likely to get there.
If you need some encouragement, join in an exercise class. This could be something like yoga, pilates, boxercise or aerobics and could be at your gym or an independent class. By going to a class you meet new people and this brings a social element to your exercise sessions, which can be an incentive.
Similar to this is joining a club. It may be more time consuming but might just give you the motivation you need to get going. How about 5-a-side football, a martial art or tennis?
Another way to ensure you fit in a workout is to use a personal trainer. I know that might sound like self promotion but it genuinely is a great way to help you exercise. A personal trainer will motivate and encourage you, ensure you are employing good technique and advise you on exercise sessions on days you don’t see them. It can also be extremely time saving if the trainer comes to your home and if you sign up for a block of sessions, you are more likely to commit.
Another motivator is finding a form of exercise you enjoy. If you truly hate all types of exercise try focusing on the benefits and it should encourage you to get off your butt and out of your rut!
photo: Abdullah AL-Naser (Abraaj)
