In the US, April is “Move More Month” – no prizes for guessing what it’s all about! April is the month when we do our best to encourage others (and ourselves) to get moving a little more. No matter our condition, or level of fitness, we can all make a little more effort to improve our health by moving more. It doesn’t take much, just a little more walking, or a little dance, any excuse to move means less time sitting.
“Move More Month” encourages us all to boost our energy, boost our mental health, and boost our heart health – an initiative that was started by the American Heart Association. Whether you’re into yoga, or just enjoy playing with your dog, every physical activity goes a long way. Add some simple activities every so often and it won’t feel like you’re making an effort, it’ll just feel natural and lead to a healthier lifestyle.
Don’t think of it as getting more exercise. Think of it as finding joy in movement. We should all be looking for joy in life, and we should attempt to put joy into everything we do.
With that in mind, we thought we’d put together some ideas for how you can incorporate more movement into your day.
Microbreaks
Whether you’re working or relaxing, try to remember to move every half hour. How about you use your phone to set an alarm to do at least 5 minutes of activity every 60 minutes? You don’t have to take a walk; it’s a little difficult to take a stroll around the building every hour. Maybe you could do something like some shoulder rolls, calf raises, or chair dips. Anything that stretches the muscles of your limbs and spine is good, and you might feel energized too.
Turn Your Commute Into An Activity
We all have to get to work somehow, and if we live close enough we could try cycling or walking there. However, if you drive you could try parking a little further away and walking the rest of the way. If you take public transportation, is it feasible to get off one or two stops early and walk into work. This would be a great way to get some more movement into your day.
Walk And Talk
When you’re chatting on the phone, try to remember you can move around too. Feel free to keep moving around the room, the house, or the garden as you chat. How about staying on the move at work while you talk? Need to schedule a meeting? Why not make it a “walking meeting”. Think about it: you’ll get the blood circulating and keep the ideas percolating!
Lunchtime Can Also Be Move Time
A lot of workplaces have a gym for their employees. You could just take a walk using the treadmill, if you don’t want to end up going for a shower during your lunch break. Even if your place of work doesn’t have a gym, you can simply take a walk outside. If the weather is bad, try taking a walk through the building. See? There is no excuse not to be active at work.
Stand And Deliver
You’ll burn more calories and use your muscles more by standing at work instead of sitting. If you feel self-conscious about standing all day in an office full of people sitting, I get it. Many people feel like it makes them the focal point. But you can explain to everyone that you are looking after your health, and you might be surprised to find others following your lead.
Forget The Elevator
It’s so easy to opt for the elevator when you live or work somewhere with many floors, but taking the stairs instead will add so much activity to your day. If you live or work quite high up, or have a condition, you could just commit to going down using the stairs, and using the elevator to go up. Or use the elevator, but get off a few levels away and use the stairs the rest of the way.
Let’s Dance
Put on your favorite feel-good tunes and turn up the volume to get your body moving to the beat, and show us your best moves! Seriously though, it’s not about being a great dancer, it’s just about moving more. Dancing to just a few songs will leave you feeling energized, in a better mood, and will get your heart pumping. Why not get others involved for more motivation?
Pets Can Help Too!
If you have a pet, like a dog or a cat, playing with them can count towards moving more. Yes, it may be true that dogs have masters while cats have staff, but cats do also love to play. You just can’t take them to the park to play with a ball the way you can with a dog. Sure, dogs are more open to walking or running with you, fetching a stick or ball you throw for them, and other games. All of which results in more movement for you. If you don’t have a pet of your own, you could try borrowing someone else’s.
Moving With Parkinson’s Disease
As well as being US Move More Month, April is also Parkinson’s Awareness Month, as discussed in our earlier blog post this month.
We are proud of our care providers and medical health experts who work tirelessly for EJAI Loves Homecare to provide our clients with the best possible care at affordable prices.
They have immense experience working with those living with Parkinson’s disease, and know how difficult it can be to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine.
According to Melita Petrossian, MD, Director of the Movement Disorders Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, “exercise is like a drug for Parkinson’s disease. It helps people’s brains use dopamine more efficiently, it creates new synapses or connections between brain cells, and it releases a protein called BDNF that helps protect the brain cells from further decline. Most of my patients who start exercising notice a significant benefit from exercise within a few weeks or a couple of months.”
When it comes to the best types of physical activity for those with Parkinson’s disease, Dr. Petrossian recommends “types of exercise that can be helpful include cardiovascular exercise; strength training including focusing on the upper body, lower body, and core; stretching; balance training; and skill-based exercise, which is when patients are learning something new such as dance, boxing, yoga, and or pilates. However, always make sure to ask your doctor before starting an exercise regimen.”
DISCLAIMER: You should always seek medical advice before taking up a new diet. This blog post is not a substitute for advice from a qualified medical professional.
If you have a loved one who needs a little help, contact EJAI Loves Homecare in Florida to discuss their in-home care service. The team is ready to take your call and go through the options to give your loved one the assistance they deserve to stay in their own home. Greater independence, lower cost.
EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more
Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones