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Steps to Get You Active in 2018

February 2018

Karen Ensle Ed.D., RDN, FAND, CFCS
Family & Community Health Sciences Educator
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County

Staying healthy with everything you have to do daily and then finding the motivation and time to exercise and move can be a bit challenging. Try to incorporate some of these ideas to get you started in 2018. Remember to keep those New Year's resolutions going all year long!

  • If you can't set aside one block of time, do 10-20 minute activities throughout the day, such as three 10-minute walks.
  • Prevent boredom by varying your daily activities. Try different walking, biking or jogging paths to vary your routine along with stretching, yoga, or other activities.
  • Activities that are fun make moving easy to fit into any schedule. Make sure you enjoy the activities you choose each day.
  • Wear a pedometer on your belt or purchase a “fitbit” to wear on your wrist to count your steps each day. Try using the stairs at work instead of an elevator and move from your desk at least every 30 minutes.
  • Step it up each day toward 10,000 steps daily to stay fit. Increase steps gradually to allow your body to adjust to this activity.
  • Try walking with a partner and, to make this activity more social, join a hiking club.
  • Make an effort each day to walk more by parking your car a distance from the building or your final destination. Try using public transportation as that will encourage more walking and less sitting.
  • Try biking or walking to work, the corner store, or other neighborhood services.
  • Try walking each day after your lunch. Encourage your co-workers, family, and friends to join you on this daily exercise.
  • Join a local bowling, softball, or other sports league in your community to stay active. When adults are active, their children follow their parents as role models.
  • Winter creates “couch potatoes.” Don't let the cold weather stop you from walking or engaging in outdoor activities. Try ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, or choose inside activities such as swimming, aerobics, raquetball, basketball or dance classes. Take small steps toward increasing your activites in 2018 for a healthier lifestyle.