Even though bikini season has officially ended, Bucknell ladies still haven’t forgotten about hitting the gym. But with midterms coming up, and more papers and projects adding to the workload, it’s often hard to find time for sleep—so the gym routine is the first thing cut from the to do list. And then it becomes so easy to get into that slump of inactivity, especially as the weather gets colder and just getting back to exercise seems to get harder and harder.
But there are different ways to get exercise in throughout the day, even if they are just little things. Every bit of movement helps and can perk you up! Here are some things to try and work into your busy schedule without actually taking away from your other activities:
•When you’re sitting at a desk, think about your posture! Try not to cross your legs or sit with one leg underneath you on the seat. Keeping a straight back helps engage both the abdominal and back muscles. To add some intensity, spend time actively contracting and releasing the stomach muscles.
•If you have a car…don’t use it! The easiest way to get extra exercise is to walk more because it’s super effective. If you live downtown, even better; the extra distance means you get more opportunity to stretch your legs. And if you already walk everywhere, challenge yourself to walk faster. Leaving just a couple minutes later than usual can be a great motivator to pick up the pace so that you’re not late for class or meetings.
•Trade texts and e-mails for face-to-face conversations—it’s another way to get more walking in! Move to the person you need to talk to (if it’s possible!), instead of relying on the electronics to get the message there for you. And if you’re having a long conversation, don’t sit on the bed to talk. Instead, take a stroll outside or around a building to get the blood flowing.
•Stairs, stairs, stairs! Some dorms are lucky enough to have elevators in them, but don’t be tempted. More stairs means more movement, which is what exercise is all about. If you already take the stairs, spice up how you climb! Skip a step all the way up or see how fast you can make it to the top.
•Get reading done while sitting on a stability ball! It may sound silly, but get a ball to put in your room and give it a try without anyone watching. It’s harder than you think! This will help improve balance and engage all sorts of muscles, which will help focus on core strength.
Of course, none of these things are the same as getting in a workout at the gym, but even the little things can help make you feel better! Also, any type of movement during the day can make it easier to get back to focusing on tasks and can boost your energy levels. Plus sometimes, we need all the help we can get to get through writing a paper or studying for an exam, so it’s a win-win situation and a great way to hold you over until you can get back on that elliptical!
Sources
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/office-exercise/SM00115/NSECTIONGROUP=2 (Mayo Clinic)
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bucknell chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.