Don't cheat yourself of the easy exercise?

Don't cheat yourself of the easy exercise?

Vacation is great. Time to unplug, be offline, and enjoy without a busy calendar.

Everyday life is also fantastic, but it often requires a little extra focus when we need to get back into the slightly healthier rhythms of exercise and good habits. Here is help if you are aware of the opportunities and pitfalls.

“I’m training – so why not take the car?”

You probably know it: You just went to the gym, so it feels totally okay to take the car instead of the bike. Or you booked a spinning class tonight, so you skip the stairs and take the elevator. But be careful – this is where “laziness” creeps in.

Even if you exercise regularly, it's the many small choices throughout the day that make a huge difference.

Your body loves movement – ​​not just during workouts. It enjoys it when you cycle to work, walk with the stroller instead of using the car, or take the stairs even if your legs are tired.

Here are some classic traps you may be familiar with:

• Du driving the children to school, even though it would take 10 minutes to walk.
• Du driving to the supermarket, even if you only need to buy milk and live close by.
• Du waiting for the elevator, even if you only need to go up to the 3rd floor.
• Du skips the walkbecause you "have trained before".
• Du working from home all day, but forgets to compensate with a walk during lunch break.

Don't cheat your body – make the smart choices with micro training.

Exercise should be something you enjoy. Something you do for its own sake – not as a punishment, but as self-care. But that's exactly why it's important that you don't use exercise as an excuse to become more passive in the rest of your everyday life.

We are bombarded with messages to “listen to your body”, “give yourself some rest” and “not push yourself too hard”. All of that is important – but only if it doesn’t become a sleeping pad. There is a difference between recovery and “laziness”. And you know the difference if you dare to notice.

The smart choices with great impact:

• Ask yourself: Would I take the car if I hadn't trained today?
• Make small rules: Always take the stairs up to the 3rd floor. Always cycle if it is less than 5 km.
• Make it fun: Use a pedometer, have a competition with a friend, or give yourself a small reward for taking the active route.
• Use the habits from the holiday constructively: If you went on a lot of walks during your vacation – keep going! If you ate more vegetables – keep it up.

Remember: Movement isn't just something that happens in workout clothes

It is the sum of your choices throughout the day that creates energy, vitality and health. And it is precisely in the small everyday decisions that you can incorporate movement as a natural part of your life – not as a duty, but as a lifestyle.

So enjoy your workout – but watch out for “laziness” hiding behind excuses. Your body will thank you for choosing the stairs, the bike and the many small steps that together make a big difference.

Micro-training with great effect.

STAI by lifestyle guide Jytte Bille