It has become more and more obvious that movement, activity, and exercise are essentials to a healthy life.
For some of us with busy lives it can be hard to fit in structured activities, going to the gym or belonging to a club. We then need to look at integrating good habits into our every day lives to make sure that we move enough to be healthy. Activities such as walking when we can, taking the stairs, even doing some sit to stand regularly throughout the day can make a difference.
The best activity for any of us all is the one we actually do. If we can feel the benefits from participating in a regular activity / exercise then we are more likely to be able to integrate this into our lives.
The benefits of exercise are well evidenced, which include those to our physical and mental health, ultimately reducing the risk of mortality. As well as exercise having a direct effect on reducing stress and elevating mood, it can enhance a sense of community and our connections with nature. Both of which also improve our mental health.
Cardiovascular exercises have also been associated with improvements to body composition, cardiovascular function at rest and cardiorespiratory fitness.
The evidence is there, it seems to make sense that we prioritise self-care to reap the benefits of this freely available medicine that is movement.
If you’re keen to find activities you can try then follow these links
For advice / information
References
Health Benefits of Different Sports: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal and Intervention Studies Including 2.6 Million Adult Participants https://rdcu.be/efcag
Pedisic Z, Shrestha N, Kovalchik S, Stamatakis E, Liangruenrom N, Grgic J, et al. Is running associated with a lower risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and is the more the better? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54(15):898–905. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-100493