What Are Incidental Activities?

One of the simple things you can do to become healthier is to increase the amount of incidental activities you perform each day. But....

What is an Incidental Activity?

An Incidental Activity can be defined as any activity built-up in small amounts over your day as opposed to your exercise session made up all-at-once. So if you work in a two story building and walk up and down to pick up papers, talk to clients, of just for the fun of it, that is an incidental activity. Incidental activities are those where you exercise incidentally, not on purpose. Going to the Gym is NOT an incidental activity while walking to the bus station or to the place you parked you car in the parking lot is an incidental activity.

This type of activities are very important for your overall health. We humans have become sedentary because of our jobs, means of transportation and type of entertainment (videos, TV, social eating, not dancing, etc). An increase on incidental activities will, on a long term basis, be beneficial for your overall health and especially

for the cardiovascular health.

There are many SIMPLE things you can do to increase the amount of time spent on incidental activities both at work, at home, and on leisure time. Here is a list of them:

At Work*:

-Walking up stairs instead of taking the lift or escalators

-Cycle or walk to work instead of driving

-Get off the train or bus a couple of stops early or park further away and walk

-Organise a weekly exercise sessions at work

At home*:

-Clean your home

-Do some gardening or mow the lawn

-Do the housework instead of hiring help

-Go for a short walk before breakfast, after dinner, or both!

-Be active while watching television (eg. exercise bike or treadmill)

Leisure*:

Park further away from the shopping centre and walk the extra distance

'¢ While at the shops, do a few laps of the centre

'¢ Make your leisure activities more active

'¢ Walk at golf instead of using a golf cart

'¢ Walk along the beach

'¢ Throw a football at the park

'¢ Organise active family outings

'¢ Try the many bicycle tracks

'¢ Go for a bushwalk

Incidental activities are wonderful and simple opportunities to GET MORE ACTIVE, one of the simple thingd we can do to become healthier and leaner.

Now I want to hear from you, What are your preferred incidental activity? What has been the strangest incidental activity you have performed. Leave a comment!!

Eat well, Move more, Live better!!!!

*taken from: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/nutrition/resources/pa_incidental.pdf

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