Now that you know the risks of being sedentary, what can you do to be more active? You don’t have to run a marathon or lift weights at the gym—although those are great ways to be active. Just look for things you can do throughout the day to make your muscles work more than they do right now.
Look at the list below. What other ideas can you think of?
- Spend less time watching TV, being on your computer, or texting on your phone.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Walk to school instead of taking the bus.
- Mow the lawn. (Riding mowers don't count!)
- Wash the car.
- Take the dog for a long walk.
- Go for a swim.
- Go in-line skating.
- Vacuum or sweep your home.
- Ride your bike.
- Rake and bag leaves in the yard.
- Play basketball.
- Go for a hike with a friend.
- Join a school sports team.
- Take a dance, yoga, or martial arts class.
What you choose to do is up to you. Just choose something that you like to do and keep it up. Remember, you don’t have to give up video games—just make sure that you work some type of physical activity into your day.
