A healthy lifestyle is an active lifestyle. This is an axiom with which it is at least stupid to argue. Regular exercise has a beneficial effect on the human body, strengthens its physical and psychological health, and increases immunity. That's why it's hardly wise to neglect regular physical activity. The question of how to lead an active lifestyle very often leads people to a dead end, but in fact there is little difficulty in this - you just need to follow a number of simple and understandable instructions. Below are some of them.
Count the number of steps taken
This trick can keep track of the distances covered and will be a great motivation to walk more. After all, a certain number of steps will help you always stay in shape and teach you to replace walking short distances by transport.
WHO recommends taking at least 10,000 steps or 7-9 kilometers per day. However, it is recommended to start with 2000 steps and gradually increase this number.
In the modern world, there are gadgets for counting steps taken, or you can download a special application on your smartphone.
Modern society
Fast food, social networks, alcohol, smoking, cars... All these are the realities of modern man. An accelerated pace of life, constant bustle and fatigue have become indispensable attributes of society. Therefore, spending a day off lying on the sofa with the TV remote control seems to be a more pleasant and easier pastime than walking and other forms of active recreation.
In addition, the latest technology and automation make life much easier and reduce the need to be active. Machines do all the hard work today. For a picnic in nature, you no longer need to walk with a backpack on your back. It is enough to get into a comfortable car that will easily take you to the desired point.
Life has become easier, but time has become less. As a consequence of these two factors, today the percentage of the population suffering from obesity is growing exponentially, depression has become the scourge of modern society, and addiction to the Internet and television is officially recognized as a serious psychological disease. A constant lack of time and energy is a logical excuse for those people who have put taking care of their health into the background.
Morning work-out
15 minutes of simple exercises every morning will not take time, and the effect will be amazing. Exercising to your favorite music will give you energy for the whole day.
Meditation can be an alternative or complement. Practices allow you to tune in to the coming day, clear your thoughts and relax your body. All this is simply necessary in the crazy schedule of big cities.
Healthy eating
An active lifestyle is not only about doing regular physical exercise, but also, above all, being responsible and sensitive to your health, and, accordingly, to your diet. It is very important that the diet is as varied and properly balanced as possible, because food is essentially the main source of energy in the body. It is worth limiting the consumption of sweets, fast carbohydrates, fats and introducing fresh vegetables and fruits, berries and complex carbohydrates into the diet (for example, cereals contain them). Moreover, we need to give up fast food, which is so popular today. Instead of dubious products from fast food restaurants for a snack at school or work, you can buy yoghurts, cottage cheese and a variety of fruits, and prepare your own porridge and casseroles. Not only does this not take up a significant amount of time, but it also keeps your health and well-being in good condition (which, for example, cannot be said about fast food).
Rejection of bad habits
The most difficult, but necessary point for everyone who wants to start leading an active lifestyle.
Smoking, computer addiction and overeating do not make life better, but only plunge you deeper into the whirlpool of gray everyday life.
Completing all ten points is guaranteed to give you strength and energy, and will also allow you to start leading an active lifestyle.
Movement is life!
It should be noted that an active and healthy lifestyle are different concepts. The concept of a healthy lifestyle is broader and more general and includes elements of an active lifestyle.
Recently, an active lifestyle has become increasingly popular; it is promoted by television, radio and the press. Social networks are full of photographs of fit young men and women, creating a desire to be the same. What is an active lifestyle? The answer to this question is very simple. You need to add more movement to your daily life. This could be walking, sports tourism, or going to the gym. Simply put, an active lifestyle includes all periods of time that are spent in dynamics.
The benefits of this lifestyle are obvious. Physical activity tones the body, strengthens the nervous system and immunity, and heals the body as a whole.
Sports tourism
Sports tourism is a type of active recreation that is a journey along natural routes overcoming various natural obstacles. This could be walking, river rafting, cycling or skiing.
This type of tourism is a team one. Therefore, it not only improves a person’s physical abilities, but also develops communication skills. This is a fairly economical form of recreation and therefore very popular among young people. In addition, participation in such events helps to learn mutual assistance, understand your capabilities, and develop willpower.
I lead an active lifestyle: how can I get my other half interested in this?
In principle, this is not difficult, but it is important to approach this calmly, without tension: if you captivate him - great, if he doesn’t captivate him - it’s okay, he will come to this later. Most often, you don’t have to do anything special: the very fact that you lead an active lifestyle energizes those around you and encourages you to be cheerful. An active lifestyle is contagious. If you are truly interested in living an energetic life, it will be visible in your eyes, in your impatience to go to the pool or to the gym, or to the park to run. Don’t make anything up, but when the weather is good, when your partner is in a good mood and not busy, just invite him to go fitness or jogging with you. Most likely, you will succeed. After all, together you both feel better; you really want to spend more time together.
Sometimes the best decision is a spontaneous decision, they suddenly decided and immediately went. And in some cases, it is better to start a conversation in advance so that the partner has the opportunity to plan his affairs. Some people like to plan ahead, and for you this means there is a greater likelihood that people will agree with you. We talked over breakfast in a good mood, planned to go to the pool in a week - that means the pool will happen, especially if during the week you rejoiced out loud about this on occasion and supported your partner’s decision.
Actually, it is not always necessary to entice your partner, you can simply organize it. We talked, thought, decided that you need it - and further according to plan. That is, we thought through all the little things and made it convenient for both ourselves and our partner. If this is running, then where and at what time? If joint activities, then which of your hobbies are most likely to interest your partner? A fragile girl who is a philologist is unlikely to be seriously attracted to parkour, but you can go to dances to your mutual pleasure. By the way, it’s easier to interest women in sports or some kind of activity if you choose beautiful equipment for them: some won’t understand this, but for women their appearance can be important, and in a nice suit she will be more willing to go to yoga ☺.
And remember: it is important to make an “easy start.” Many people prefer to sit out because they are afraid that they won’t succeed, that they will look bad, that they will laugh at them and that they will scold themselves for awkwardness and mistakes... And just make sure that the very beginning turned out to be easy and stress-free and festive, without criticism and dissatisfaction, so that your partner ends up with only joyful associations with this matter. Most people have enough self-control to maintain a festive mood on someone else's birthday or New Year. So create a similar atmosphere - at least for yourself, at least for your significant other. For this alone, it will be a pleasure to be around you.
Let your active lifestyle become your common joy!
Basic Rules
As mentioned above, the most important thing in an active lifestyle is to enjoy it. Any activity should bring joy, otherwise stress and fatigue will not only not disappear from life, but will also increase significantly. Therefore, the load must be chosen correctly; there is no point in overstraining the body. It is also important to learn to alternate between activity and rest. Healthy sleep is an integral part of a healthy life.
Before you start changing your lifestyle, you need to have a clear picture of your health. This requires a complete review of your medical history and consultation with a qualified specialist. The presence of some chronic diseases can significantly adjust plans for sports, tourism and other outdoor activities.
The next step is to carefully consider your diet. You should exclude from the menu foods that do not benefit the body and saturate it with vitamins. An important aspect of a healthy diet is regularly drinking clean, still water. This not only improves digestion, but helps the body better tolerate physical activity. The fact is that during sports the body consumes a large amount of fluid. If you do not replenish water supplies in time, muscles lose elasticity and wear out.
Physical culture of the body
Physical culture of the body is a broader concept than sports tourism, sports or hardening. It is part of human culture, which has its own values, knowledge and traditions. These are activities aimed at developing and improving the physical characteristics of the human body. Physical education classes include several components:
- Morning exercises. Many people habitually call it “charging”. It really aims to charge the body with energy after a night's rest. During sleep, muscles relax, and morning exercises help tone them.
- Doing physical exercise and playing sports. These activities are aimed at developing physical abilities. Leading a passive lifestyle, a person does not use even a small part of the potential given to him by nature.
- Physical activity. The manifestation of physical activity affects the functioning of the entire body and is the prevention of many diseases.
Elements of physical culture of the body can also include personal hygiene and hardening. This strengthens the body, making it more resistant to various diseases.
