A lifestyle that includes daily exercise has many healthy benefits

If I told you that there was one thing that you could daily which has been proven to control your weight, ward off disease, elevate your mood, enhance your energy, help you sleep better, and live longer, would you do it? Remember your answer to that question because there is something that can add all 6 of these benefits to your life — exercise!

Exercise is essential for longevity. The good news is that you can make small changes that have a big impact. You do not have to spend an hour a day sweating it out in the gym to gain the huge benefits listed above. Research shows that adding even 20 minutes of physical activity into your daily routine yields results in all of the aforementioned areas.


Do

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  • sign up for a 5k
  • start slowly
  • track your progress
  • drink more water
  • pay attention to the small things
Don't

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  • be too hard on yourself
  • spend money on a gym membership right away
  • change your diet drastically
  • wait for the perfect time to start
  • tell everyone you know about your fitness goals

[publishpress_authors_data]'s recommendation to ExpertBeacon readers: Do

Do sign up for a 5k

Whether you are walking, jogging or running, there is nothing like a goal with an attached deadline to keep you motivated. There are 5k marathons in nearly every city, and most of them are held to raise awareness for non-profits and diseases. So you can give back to the community and get the exercise you need at the same time.

Do start slowly

If you are transitioning from couch potato or desk bound to a more active lifestyle, avoid the mistake of doing too much too quickly. Jumping into a vigorous exercise program after a long period of being sedentary can lead to injury or burnout.

Do track your progress

Keep a journal and at the end of each day, make a note of what physical activity you did that day. Keeping track in this way helps you to see your progress and motivates you to make continual improvement.

Do drink more water

Often times, your body loses water during exercise. It is important to stay hydrated for proper muscle recovery. Additionally, thirst can often be mistaken for hunger leading to consuming unneeded calories and counteracting the potential weight loss benefits of your more active lifestyle.

Do pay attention to the small things

Small bouts of activity throughout the day can add up to a significant improvement in your health. You can park in the furthest spot from your destination in parking lots, you can opt for the stairs over the elevator, you can do do squats while brushing your teeth.


[publishpress_authors_data]'s professional advice to ExpertBeacon readers: Don't

Do not be too hard on yourself

If you go a few days without fitting in any activity, commit to getting back on track tomorrow. A few days of inactivity is not a big deal. Your path to wellness is a marathon, not a sprint.

Do not spend money on a gym membership right away

It is tempting to go out and join a fancy gym, thinking that will be the boost you need. It is very rare that a gym membership will change your habits. Work on being more active in your day to day routine by adding in walking or a few home exercises. Once you accomplish this for two or three months, you can reward yourself with the membership!

Do not change your diet drastically

People often make the mistake of trying to overhaul their diet when they start to exercise in hopes of seeing quick results. Doing this makes it hard to get an accurate understanding on how the exercise itself is influencing how you look and feel. It is better to get into the groove of having more daily activity, and then address your diet later.

Do not wait for the perfect time to start

There is no perfect time. Start today, wherever you are, with whatever time and space that you have available.

Do not tell everyone you know about your fitness goals

Accountability is important. Try enlisting the support and encouragement of a few close friends or family members instead of shouting your fitness goals from the rooftop. This way, if you miss a few self inflicted milestones, the added pressure from outside people won’t cause unneeded stress.


Summary

Arguably, the best thing that you can do to improve your overall well being, is to add exercise to your life. Remember that exercise can come in many different forms and does not have to take place within the walls of a gym. Be creative and commit to moving more all throughout the day for a longer, healthier life.

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