Getting active
Getting active
Physical activity is good for the heart, body, and mind.1 You can play a significant role in supporting customers to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine – even brief advice can be effective to get people active.2
Regular activity lowers the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer, depression, anxiety, and dementia.1,3
The NHS recommends that adults:4
- Do strengthening exercises on at least two days a week
- Do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise per week
- Spread out exercise over the week.
This may seem a bit overwhelming to some customers, so it’s important to let them know they can start slowly and build up. You can also provide some of the following tips to help them get started:5
- Set a reminder to move every 30 minutes
- Build activity into existing routines, e.g. walk around the house while waiting for the kettle to boil, or stretch while watching TV
- ‘Walk and talk’ with a friend rather than going for coffee
- Take up an active hobby like gardening or DIY
- Find out what the customer enjoys doing – they’re more likely to stick to it for the long term if they enjoy it! If they’re not sure, encourage them to try a few different activities.