12 Creative Tricks to Sneak Exercise Into Your Day
Don’t get us wrong, we love to exercise — but after a long and busy day, sometimes it feels easier to take the easy way out and skip it. It’s hard to remember that rush of feel-good endorphins that comes after exercise when you’re faced with the prospect of vegging out on the couch.
Whether or not you decide to take a rest day, you can still work movement into your routine without even realizing it. We rounded up some ways to sneak exercise into your day.
1. Make it a daily habit to stretch in bed before waking up. Even one pose is better than none. A side stretch, seated twist, and seated cat cow can feel extra-nice after a night of sleep.
2. Rethink your transportation. Is it possible to walk or bike?
3. Park farther away. Get some extra steps in — it’s probably less crowded in the back of the lot, anyway!
4. Do 10 squats every time you pick up your phone. This is an interesting challenge, especially if you’re trying to cut down on your screen time.
5. Opt for walking meetings or chats. Getting some fresh air might also boost your mood and encourage creative thinking. This is a great option for phone calls as well.
6. Swap out your lunch hour for crunch hour. Consider going for a lunchtime walk or taking a quick Alo Moves class. We like Dylan Werner’s Desk Therapy, Calvin Corzine’s Work Flow, and Briohny Smyth’s Yoga Break.
7. Set a calendar or phone reminder to move every hour. Even if it means just standing up and taking a few steps, give your body the chance to move.
8. Make use of your cooking time. While you’re waiting for food to heat up in the microwave or cook on the stove, use this time to work in some stretches, push ups against the counter, calf raises, or squats.
9. Take a longer route with your furry friend. Consider walking a longer route or walking a few extra minutes with your dog.
10. Set a five-minute timer and do a speedy room cleanup. This knocks out two items on the list — a cleaner room and a movement break!
11. Turn TV time into active time. Netflix and lift, anyone? Work into a deep Pigeon Pose while watching your favorite show, or challenge yourself to do core work throughout the commercial or ad break.
12. Put your go-to objects across the room. This is very inconvenient but very effective. Put the remote next to the TV and place your phone across the bedroom. In addition to making you work in a few extra steps, you can also consider it as a method of developing resilience in the face of frustration!
Make working out feel like a party with these online yoga and fitness classes on Alo Moves:
Booty Party with Adrienne Kimberley
Tabata Torch with Callie Gullickson
Jam Session with MC YOGI
Cardio Fix with Jacy Cunningham
This Flow is the Jam with Calvin Corzine
High Vibe HIIT Flow with Jade Alectra