What does an active lifestyle mean to you? To some, it might mean running on the treadmill every day. To others, it might involve hours of rigorous exercise each week. Regardless of what an active lifestyle means to you, you need to remember that staying active is key to living a long and healthy life.
Most of us know that being physically active is important, but we don’t always know how to fit it into our daily routines. We all know that being physically active is good for our bodies, but many people struggle with finding time to do the activities they enjoy. As a result, a lot of people end up living sedentary lifestyles.
Different Kinds of Active Lifestyles
When it comes to active lifestyles, many activities help people become more active every day. The first kind of active activity is what researchers call ‘unstructured.’ Unstructured active activities refer to physical movement such as walking or playing outside. It also includes any household chores you might do.
For example, you can scrub the floor, hang the laundry out to dry, or vacuum. You can also use a neutralizing solution with a cleaning solution to keep stainless steels structures in your home clean and presentable. This can be kind of challenging, but it is one of the best ways to stay active! These activities will help make people stay active, but they don’t typically involve a pre-existing set of rules for how to do them. These activities let you do them in your own way and at your own pace.
The second type is what researchers call structured active lifestyles. Structured active activities refer to more intense physical activity, such as running or going on a bike ride. They also include any workouts that you can do in the gym or even those classes at your local yoga studio. However, structured active exercises are not always necessary for active lifestyles.
It’s important to note that active living doesn’t necessarily require a structured exercise routine or an active lifestyle in the gym. It can be as simple as playing with your kids, getting up and going for a walk at lunchtime, taking the stairs instead of riding the elevator, or working on household chores like washing windows.
Benefits of Having an Active Lifestyle
Having an active lifestyle offers many benefits. Research suggests that active lifestyles can lead to:
- A longer life span: Active people tend to live longer than those who are inactive because an active lifestyle can help protect against heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions. Therefore, people who are active turn out to be healthier compared to inactive people.
- Better quality of life: Active people tend to enjoy a better quality of life because active lifestyles can help improve moods, energy levels, self-esteem, and social connections. You will also have more mental alertness and productivity if you’re active regularly. Research suggests that active people feel less lonely than those who are living sedentary lifestyles.
- Reduced risk of certain diseases: Active lifestyles are linked to lower rates of cancer, arthritis, dementia, or depression. This is because being active can reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes, which, in turn, can lower your chances of developing these diseases.
- Better sleep: Active people tend to have higher quality sleep than inactive individuals because an active lifestyle reduces stress levels and improves heart health. Those who are active regularly also get less disturbed sleep than those who lead sedentary lives.
- Improved mental well-being: Those who have active lifestyles often exhibit greater self-esteem, more positive moods, and higher cognitive function than people who have sedentary lifestyles. After all, exercise can increase serotonin levels which help combat stress, anxiety, and even depression.
- Better relationships: People who are active regularly often report having more satisfying personal interactions than their sedentary counterparts because they exhibit greater social support and empathy towards others. As a result, active people are more likely to have active social lives and be satisfied with their personal relationships.
- Less stress: Active people also report feeling less stressed than sedentary folks because they handle daily pressures better, such as work deadlines or family issues. Engaging in physical activity can help clear your mind so that you’re not dwelling on these things all day long.
Staying Active Should Be a Priority
With all the benefits of living an active life, people should prioritize staying active every day. This way, they can reap the benefits of physical activity without any drawbacks. Having an active lifestyle will help people live longer, be happier, and feel less stressed every day.
