Get Those Creative Juices Flowing

by Leslie Aronson — April 9, 2008

Sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day to fit in a trip to the gym or a spin around the neighborhood on your bike. But this is no reason to despair or forgo your fitness regimen entirely - it gives you the opportunity to get creative. Much of what we do in a given day can be turned into exercise if we actively think outside the box. 'Tis the season for spring cleaning after all, and anyone who has scrubbed a bathtub that hasn't been cleaned in a while can tell you just how elevated your heart rate can get when combating resilient mildew. Mowing the lawn, playing with your dog (or kids, for that matter), mopping the floor, or gardening can all be aerobic activities.

The office can offer more of a challenge, but it's another opportunity to get creative. Take a spin around your floor or go up and down a few flights of stairs - it'll get you moving and blow the cubicle cobwebs out of your brain. Use the copier or restroom on another floor so you're forced to take the stairs. Save some time on your lunch break to walk outside or park farther away from your building so you get those muscles warmed up going to and from your car. Any steps you take towards being more physically active will pay off, and you'll feel good knowing it.