Take up an active hobby
Being active is all about having fun, if we don’t enjoy it, we won’t keep it up. We all deserve to spend some time, doing something we enjoy. Once you get started, it’s easy to keep going. It doesn’t have to be something you do by yourself, it can be fun with friends and family and a great way to meet new people too.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to get your old tracksuit out! Sport can be a buzz, but its not the only show in town. Being active can be about having fun too, your way.
The name of the game is to try to get your heart beating faster, and your lungs working a bit harder for at least 10 minutes at a time. Build up to doing this for a total of 150 minutes a week. Try it for 20 or 30 minutes every day. Every 10 minutes counts!
Top tips - get going your way
A walk in the park
Walking is a great active hobby and is a great way to de-stress. It doesn’t have to be something you do alone, you can do it with friends too. So instead of meeting a friend for coffee, why not meet them for a walk instead?
Find walks in your area or create your own with Walk4Life
Dance off!
Dancing is a really fun way of burning energy - it can be in a class with friends, in front of the TV or dancing to the radio when nobody’s watching! All you need is a great tune.
More ideas to get you started dancing
Get on your bike!
Cycle round your local park or try an organised bike ride. Many of them are short distances and are a great way to get cycling with friends and family.
See Bike4Life for more ideas.
Splash out
Whether it’s a regular splash around with family or friends or swimming lengths, it’s a fun way to get active and a sauna or jacuzzi afterwards is a real treat. Some local authorities have free swimming offers, so it's worth checking their websites for details.
Find swimming pools in your area.
Bowl them over
Activity doesn’t have to feel like a workout - a regular trip to the bowling alley with friends or family is a great way of getting up and about and beginning to build more exercise into your life.
Take on the kids
Think about the sports you enjoy watching on TV and get out and give them a try. How about a trip to the local pitch-and-putt, a game of ping-pong or a kick-about in the park with kids or grandkids? Anyone for badminton?
Back to school
If you used to like playing a sport why not take something up again? You’ll be amazed at what’s on offer these days from kayaking to karate! Local clubs cater to a range of ages and levels so you can build up gradually. But remember to include other activities in your daily routine as well.
Find sports and fitness facilities in your area.