SportUni’s Sport Coordinator, Janette Savumaa, compared two workdays from the perspective of daily activity. On the first day, she chose to make active choices, such as walking for her commutes, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and taking breaks regularly during the day. On the second day, on the other hand, she aimed to make opposite choices, avoiding everyday physical activity as much as possible. In the table below, you can see the comparison between these active and passive days.
-I didn’t notice a significant difference between the days, even though there was a considerable contrast in the step count. After the passive day, it felt like I had a more tiring workday, even though the actual tasks of the day weren’t significantly different from those of the active day. On an active day, on the other hand, I felt quite energetic even after work. This was likely influenced by the fact that I typically have more active days in my everyday life, and that’s why the drawbacks of a passive day don’t become apparent in just one day. And that’s how it goes, the overall balance matters. It’s okay to have passive days in your daily life from time to time, as long as the majority of the days are active, notes Sport Coordinator Janette Savumaa
Everyday life offers numerous opportunities for diverse physical activity
Did you know that following physical activity recommendations only takes up a fraction of your weekly time? It’s essential to consider the time that falls outside these recommendations. Your body doesn’t differentiate whether you’re exercising on a exercise bike or cycling to work or school. Everyday physical activity refers to daily movement, such as cleaning, gardening, or walking to work or school. If you’re not engaging in regular exercise, focus on increasing everyday physical activity. Everyday physical activity is known to bring various benefits, for example improve your ability to do everyday activities. (Liikkuva aikuinen, n.d.)
Make small choices daily and improve your well-being. The best part is, all movement counts!
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