Yahoo Lifestyle Make Exercise Easy
Split Your Workout
If you ever find yourself short on time, split your workout into segments. You’ll get the same kilojoule-burning and health benefits. When researchers considered this in a study of 20 healthy men, they found no differences between walking in 10-minute bouts or walking for an hour, as long as the result added up to the same amount of time.
Bring a Friend
Walking revs up your energy, but stressors at work or at home can zap this energy and make it challenging to get a good workout. If you’re in the middle of an extra-hectic week, consider inviting a friend to share in one of your daily strolls. Working out with a friend takes your mind off whatever’s nagging at you, and it’s a great way to vent issues that are crowding your headspace. You can also listen to what’s going on with your friend—another way to stop mulling over your own problems. Bonus: research shows that pairing up may help you lose more weight and get even fitter.
Reward Yourself
Keep your motivation high by rewarding yourself with something exercise-related. Here are some of our favourite accessories:
MP3 PLAYER
iPods are lightweight, and you can invest in a clip or armband to make them walker-friendly. Exercise is easier when you’re listening to your favourite music.
PEDOMETER
These little step counters are inexpensive (most are less than $25), and they encourage you to walk more throughout the day.
SUNGLASSES
Shades are smart sun protection. Be sure to pick a style that blocks 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
