When it comes to staying healthy, you don’t always need a gym membership or a strict workout plan. Everyday activities can have a big impact on your well-being.
These non-exercise activities, often overlooked, are an easy way to stay active without feeling like you’re exercising. By making small changes to your daily routine, you can boost your health, improve your mood, and stay more energised—all without breaking a sweat.
Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) as the Cleveland Clinic defines it, refers to daily activities that use the body’s energy to improve performance, burn calories, and maintain efficiency. These activities are claimed to range from sitting perfectly still to full-blown cardio workouts, “like running, using an elliptical or jumping rope.”
The above publication further explains these activities can be done in various ways, such as walking, fidgeting, household chores, and cleaning. It is also mentioned that walking can increase your heart rate, while fidgeting can be done in various ways, such as using a stress ball, performing shoulder rolls, or bouncing while washing hands.
Household chores, such as vacuuming, carrying laundry, and scrubbing the shower walls, can also be NEAT. By incorporating more NEAT activities into your daily routine, you can increase your physical activity and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Applied Fitness Solutions suggests three tips to improve your physical and mental health through non-exercise activities. The first tip is to set a timer every hour to remind you to move, as even a few minutes of movement can lead to significant physical and mental health benefits, states the above source.
The second tip according to the publication, is to always take the stairs, as they are some of the best “vigorous” NEAT activities. The third tip is to park further away, as it adds 1-2 extra minutes of walking into and out of the store and increases activity after driving, adds the source.
Also see: Essential workouts for your knees
