As time progresses, families grow older, and we’re all constantly distracted by all those new, shiny toys, most of us tend to lose touch with our physical health and well-being. It’s easy to simply shrug off exercise and think that “it can wait until tomorrow.” Unfortunately, this is not a very good attitude to have when it comes to physical health, especially as you grow older. This is why we’ve compiled a few tips on how to help you make physical activity a part of your day.

• Choose activities you enjoy. By choosing activities that you actually enjoy, you will be more likely to keep doing them. Simple enough.
• Variety. A key to ensuring physical activity is to vary the type of activity you do. This way, you don’t become bored with one thing.
• Set small, realistic goals. When it comes to your activity, don’t promise yourself you’ll complete some farfetched goal. This will only set yourself up for failure right from the beginning, and you’ll begin to lose motivation. A great example of setting a small, realistic goal would be saying something like, “I will go on a 10-minute walk before eating my lunch.”
• Schedule it in. Set aside certain times of the day, or one period that suits you, to be active – you are more likely to be committed if you schedule it into your routine.
• Grab a friend. Be active with friends, family, your partner, or join a group. This way you can motivate and encourage one another. The support you gain from being active with others may not only improve your health, but your self-esteem, too!
• Ask the Doc. It’s a good idea to consult your doctor for advice before you begin or increase physical activity, especially if you are over the age of 45.