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“Sitting less and moving more are the only ways to minimise the risk of developing serious and chronic illnesses. After all, any activity is better than no activity”, says Dr Bernice Liu, Senior Physiotherapist, Department of Physiotherapy, Sengkang General Hospital (SKH), a member of the SingHealth group.

Tips to move more at work, in school and at home 

 At work

  1. Remind yourself to move
    Set alerts on mobile phones, smart watches or activity trackers to remind yourself to move every other hour.
  2. Drink more to move more
    Keeping hydrated and answering nature’s call can serve as a good minibreak away from work, not to mention the health benefits of water.
  3. Park / alight a little farther
    A short jaunt can go a long way to keep the heart pumping.

 In school

  1. Get an exercise buddy
    A good buddy is one who is always up for a good ballgame together!
  2. Play during recess or after school
    Get active during recess or after school. Borrow a football or skipping rope and make use of your school field or gym.
  3. S-T-R-E-T-C-H
    Stand up and stretch or move between lessons. Movement keeps your brain active so you’ll be less sleepy in class.

 At home

  1. Give the lift a miss
    Take the stairs, instead of the lift, to get your blood pumping.
  2. Clean home, fit body
    Clean your home regularly! Housework involves plenty of walking, lifting and stretching, all of which is good for your body.
  3. Explore your neighbourhood
    Go for walks and explore your estate.
“However, doing these simple activities alone cannot erase the negative effects of prolonged sitting. You need to also include enough regular exercise in your life to get the most health benefits,” Dr Liu adds.
 

7-Day easy exercise routine

If you do not have an exercise routine, here’s a simple way to exercise daily!

​Sun
Mon​Tue​Wed​Thu​Fri​Sat​
​Outing with family/friends at the park or beach​Any aerobic exercise (e.g. brisk walking, soccer) for 30 - 45 mins​Any strength exercise (e.g. pushups, sit-ups) in 3 sets of 10 repetitions*​Rest day!
​Any aerobic exercise (e.g. brisk walking, soccer) for 30 - 45 mins​Any strength exercise (e.g. squats, lunges) in 3 sets of 10 repetitions*Doing the laundry or grocery shopping​
​ ​3 – 5 simple stretches every day
* Do more or less, depending on your fitness and endurance.


See the previous page to learn why sitting too much increases your risk of getting chronic illnesses.

Ref: N18