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Article updated on 10/30/23

Are you wanting to add more activity to your daily life but aren’t sure where to start?  My advice is to start with ONE small change each week and find movement you enjoy.  If you aren’t very active, making it a goal to do an intense workout every single day probably isn’t realistic, but starting with small things like a daily walk, parking farther away from the store when shopping, or carrying a basket instead of pushing a cart in the grocery store can ease you into a more active way of life.   Here are some simple ways I’ve found to be helpful and enjoyable as I’ve tried to improve my fitness by adding more movement to my day.

Rebounding  

A wonderful aerobic workout that helps with endurance and flexibility as well.  Another important benefit is that it aids with lymphatic circulation, which is key for our immune response and the transport of nutrients to our cells.  You can find small rebounders for around $40 here. You can also find plenty of energizing HIIT trampoline workouts like this!

Planking

What else would you expect from me?!  My goal is to start and end each day by planking.  Start small, even if you can only hold a plank for 5-10 seconds, and focus on good form (keeping your core tight and body straight).  Aim to add 5 seconds every few days until you build up to holding the position for a total of 2 minutes.  Once you do that, you can add modifications like plank up-downs, plank jacks, side planks, etc.  Strengthening your core is key for a well-functioning body, avoiding injury, and pretty much every activity you’ll want to complete.

Pushups

Pushups are an incredible exercise that can have a significant impact on your fitness journey. One key benefit of pushups is the increase in upper body strength.

To begin your pushup journey as a beginner, focus on maintaining proper form. Start in a high plank position, ensuring your body forms a straight line from head to toe. As you progress, gradually increase the number of repetitions, always prioritizing good form over quantity. As you gain strength, you can advance to more bodyweight exercises.

Interval Walking

Walk at your fastest possible pace for 30-60 seconds, then return to a slower pace for 90 seconds of active recovery.  Alternate the fast and slow intervals until you reach a total of 20-30 minutes.   There is a misconception that interval training must be high-impact to provide health benefits, but that’s simply untrue.  Research published in the Journal of PLOS Medicine found that walking a minimum of only 11 minutes a day can extend your lifespan by 2 years!  I’ll take it!

Jumping rope

This is my favorite accessory to bring with me when I travel.  It takes up so little space but packs a huge fitness punch in just a short time.  Not only is it a good cardio workout, but it’s also going to burn a lot of calories and improve your coordination.   Try this circuit workout to get started.

Looking for more options?  Check out these wonderful exercises you can do from home!

Thanks for reading!