“Sneak it in Week” – Tips to Get Fit at Work and Home
Working professionals opted for gym shoes over loafers last month in response to “Sneak It In Week,” a nation-wide effort encouraging individuals to sneak in 10 minutes of physical activity into their workday. “Sneak It In Week” was held on April 9-13 and encouraged people to take small steps in their daily lives to increase their level of physical activity.
The event was promoted by ParticipACTION, a national nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and supporting active living and sport participation. ParticipACTION and community participants shared tips on how to fit in 10 minutes of activity during the work day. Some of these tips included:
- Parking 10 minutes away from the office to increase walking
- Getting off the train one stop early and walking the rest of the commute
- Walking or biking to work instead of taking public transportation
- Joining or starting a recreation league at your company
- Joining a gym or YMCA near work. Exercise before or after work or fit in a workout during your lunch hour
- Store resistance bands or small hand weights in your desk drawer and do arm curls between meetings or tasks
- Sit on a firmly inflated fitness ball instead of a desk chair to improve balance and tone your core muscles while sitting at your desk
While “Sneak It In Week” focused on incorporating physical activity in the workplace, the same concept can be used by busy parents looking to get more active at home. Incorporating small steps into your daily routine is the perfect solution to get the family onboard with being more active! In fact, helping everyone commit to a healthier lifestyle doesn’t mean you need to drastically alter your family’s daily routine.
Ways to Sneak in Family Fitness
- Walk the kids to school – it’s an opportunity to spend quality time with your children while also burning a few calories
- Set aside weekend time for physical activities as a family, such as outings to the park, going on a hike or playing tennis
- Make chores a fun activity. For example, play your favorite music while racking leaves or break out into a water fight while washing the car
- Walk or bike together to do local errands, like trips to the grocery store or library
- Play catch or soccer with your child in the yard or help organize a neighborhood game outside
- Create a “scavenger hunt” to make a family walk after dinner more enjoyable – items included on your list could be: a neighbor walking a dog, an interesting leaf, a purple flower or a red car
What other ways can you sneak in calorie-burning activities with your family?
Lauren Wisniewski wrote this post for Together Counts on behalf of Edelman Digital.