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Fitness is a topic of some contention in the modern age. These days, people often don’t get enough exercise. This is due in large part to the fact that modern life simply demands less of people. This means it falls to the individual to take care of his or her own fitness needs. Doing so is no easy feat; it requires discipline to push yourself in order to see improvements. Here are a few suggestions that can help you lead a more fit and active lifestyle.
Athletics
One of the best ways to make a lifestyle change is to find a way to make it enjoyable. Along these lines, athletic pursuits are often the best way to make physical fitness a fun and engaging activity. Sports in particular have been known to foster not only fitness but a sense of community, so consider getting some friends together for some friendly baseball games. You can even get custom baseball gloves to make things a little more official. Sports are particularly good for creating a schedule that can reinforce those benefits on a weekly or monthly basis. Team sports aren’t your only option, however. Taking up a more self sufficient athletic endeavor can be the best option for some people. Introverts will appreciate this kind of activity, but it can also be a way for others to retain options in the absence of friends with open schedules.
Workout Routine
Regular exercise is the foundation of a fit and healthy lifestyle, meaning that the aforementioned weekly baseball game won’t do much for you in the long run without more consistent activity to support it. Likewise, demanding athletic pursuits can be a tremendous mistake without a relatively fit baseline from which to start. That means you’ll need to adopt a workout routine in order to get at least 3 hours of exercise each week. The amount of time spent isn’t the only factor, however, and it’s also important to adequately work each muscle group in turn. The 7 minute workout is a good one size fits all option, because it’s a fairly comprehensive workout that encourages a balanced physique and fits easily into even the busiest schedules. Beginners need to take it slow in order to avoid injuries, so it can be best to simply start with lighter weights and a daily walk, but it will take some experimentation to find the right fit for you. Generally speaking, an easy workout isn’t an effective one, but you also need to listen to your body so that you don’t don’t push too hard or too fast, because that can result in injury.
Standing
The modern human spends entirely too much time sitting. In general, a lack of activity is detrimental, but sitting for upwards of 8 hours a day can be even more so. Therefore, you need to be mindful of how much time you spend sitting, and you need to reduce that time. It’s important especially for those working a desk job to take some time here and there to get up and stretch, or you could even walk around a bit. For the best results, a standing desk or a hybrid can help long stints at a desk much less detrimental. If you do lead a predominately stationary lifestyle, consider spending more time walking and standing any time and in any way that you can. For example, many people drive everywhere, but consider walking to more of your destinations that are within a mile of your home. This can give you some much needed time on your feet, not to mention the change of scenery and some fresh air.
Staying fit in the modern age can be difficult, because there are often temptations and obligations that can derail your attempts. However, a bit of discipline and some information can help you restructure your life to improve your health. These tips give you a great place to start, but remember to keep striving for better.