When people think about being more active, the first thing that comes to mind is grueling workouts at the gym, which isn’t appealing to everyone. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle doesn’t need to involve traditional workouts. If you want to know how to be more active every day, continue reading to explore 12 fun activities!
How to Be More Active in 12 Fun Ways
1. Bike Riding
Cycling is a low-impact exercise that’s fantastic for working various muscles and joints, and it certainly beats using the exercise back in the local gym. Whether you go solo or take your family along for the ride, a bike ride is a great way to get a good dose of fresh air, get active, and see places you wouldn’t usually see.
2. Hiking
Hiking is another great way to get active and enjoy the outdoors. Have a look for local hiking trails and take your family or friends. Before you head out, make sure you have the appropriate gear, including quality hiking boots and a suitable rucksack. On your first hike, choose an easy trail to get used to it; there’s no point in setting yourself up to fail.
3. Yard Work
Yard work might sound more like a chore than a fun way to get active, but digging up weeds, shoveling dirt, and mowing the lawn can all burn a surprisingly high number of calories.
According to WebMD, heavy yard work can burn anywhere up to 600 calories per hour! When you combine this with the satisfaction of finishing the work, you’ll see why we’ve included it in this list.
4. Dancing
Bring together your favorite music genre and start throwing down some moves, and you’ve got the recipe for an exciting way to keep active. Speak to your partner and get signed up with a local dance class. As well as introducing a fun activity, dancing with your partner will be full of passion and romance.
If you don’t feel like dancing in a class is suited to you, then get moving to the rhythm in the comfort of your own home. Shout out to Google, Alexa, or Siri, and tell them to play some music, and then get moving – just make sure you don’t crash into your expensive items.
5. Paintballing
A spot of competition is healthy for the mind, so why not make paintballing your go-to fun activity? Bring together your family and friends, suit up in camouflage, and get the adrenaline pumping as you sneak around and shoot the “enemies” with paint.
If you enjoy paintballing, consider stepping up your game and investing in your own paintball gun so you won’t need to rely on rentals. You can even stack up on paint grenades and other cool accessories.
6. Baseball
If you want to know how to be more active, consider baseball. It is one of America’s favorite sports, and it makes for one hell of a workout. It’s got lifting, swinging, running, and throwing all combined into a single game.
However, not everyone has the time to join up with a local team, but there is a range of indoor and outdoor batting cages if you’ve got the space.
7. Swimming
Swimming is another low-impact activity that burns calories, strengthens the cardiovascular system, and helps keep muscles/joints healthy. If you’ve never been swimming before, it’s never too late to get started.
Many aquatic centers host classes designed for adults. As well as being great for the body, swimming is fantastic for the mind because there’s something about being in the water that brings about peace.
8. Join a Sports Team
It doesn’t matter if you’re into football, soccer, baseball, or fencing, engaging in your favorite sport is an exciting way to keep active. What’s more, if you join a local team, you’ll benefit from the social aspect of the sport. Breaking out as a pro athlete is a pipe dream for many, but who knows what can happen if you keep at it?
9. Dog Walking
Having a dog can make life better in so many ways! You have companionship, a cuddle buddy, and a being that will make sure you go outside for a walk every day. The average dog needs to have around 1-2 walks a day to burn off energy and go to the toilet. Depending on the type of dog you have, it’s an excellent idea to take your four-legged friend hiking with you.
If you don’t have the time to own a dog, you can still get involved in walking dogs. There are plenty of people that will happily let people volunteer to walk their dogs, so get speaking to your family, friends, and neighbors.
10. Bowling
When you think about bowling, you most likely don’t see it as an active sport. After all, you’re just walking from the seated section to the lanes and throwing a trying to hit pins.
However, according to Weight Loss Made Practical, just 30 minutes of bowling can burn around 112 calories. Additionally, in a three-game series, the average person walks about half a mile.
11. Start a Yoga Class
If you don’t want to wind up feeling the sweaty burn of a HIIT workout, then consider taking up yoga or Pilates. These are low-impact sessions that involve stretching and holding poses designed to improve strength, manage stress, and sleep better.
As well as the physical benefits of yoga, joining a class is the perfect way to meet new people, which is essential for maintaining a healthy mind.
12. Walking and Audio Books
Sometimes the simplest activities are the most enjoyable, which brings us to walking and listening to an audiobook. While you’re listening to the calming voice of someone reading a real page-turner, you’ll be surprised at how much time passes.
Before you know it, you’ll have smashed through the recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.
So, how to be more active without exhausting yourself with heavy workouts? As you see, it’s easier than it seems!
Being active is an essential part of following a healthy lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean you have to slave away in the gym. With these 12 fun activities, you’ll be getting enough exercise while having a great time, whether you choose to go it alone or get your loved ones involved!
