Physical Activity Reflection

Question #1. What are some great ways to be active?
Some great ways to stay active include planning my commute so I have a walk included. I also enjoy going on bike rides when it is warm and always finding 10-15 minutes to do an at-home workout if the weather is bad or if I don't have access to a gym. Generally, I love activities that allow me to subconsciously be as active as I can be(ie. walking to work, biking around central park, playing basketball with friends). When I am not aware of the activity I am doing it allows me to have fun and want to engage more in physical activities.

Question #2. How do you maintain an active lifestyle when you have so many other demands on your time?
I maintain an active lifestyle when I have so many other demands on my time by incorporating ways to be active in my daily schedule like walking to and from work or going on a walk during my break. I am also intentional about the time that I spend engaged in physical activity, no matter how late or how early it is I make sure to work in at least a 10-minute walk or at-home workout. I also maintain a healthy lifestyle by acknowledging that it is okay not to be active every single day. When I first started living a more active lifestyle I would feel so guilty and down when I could not find time to work out. I have found forgiving myself and taking days off is just as much a part of an active lifestyle because it sustains the lifestyle and allows me not to get burned out.

Question #3. How do you find a balance between all of the things you are supposed to do to stay healthy?
During COVID and quarantine, it was so hard to balance staying healthy through physical activity, eating well, and work. As a result, I stopped trying to stay healthy and my mental health suffered as a result; I did not know how much I relied on healthy lifestyles as a form of self-care. Once I realized it was an integral part of my well-being, I told myself that at times I need to say no and pause work to take care of myself and my body. I also started waking up earlier to work out and going to bed earlier which kickstarted a lifestyle and priority re-set.