For busy working people it can feel like you have no time at all to fit exercise into your already hectic schedule, but this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. If you commute to work, whether that’s walking, cycling, or catching a bus or the train, there are a few simple ways that you can turn your commute into a workout to help you burn some calories before you even reach the office.
Cycle don’t drive
If you drive to work at the moment then one simple way to get some extra exercise in is to cycle instead. Cycling is a great way to burn some calories and get the blood pumping early on in the day, and it doesn’t just have to be a summer sport - just make sure you dress for the cooler weather if you’re going to get the bike out during the winter months.
Get jogging
If you walk to work, or usually catch a bus for the short ride into the office, then swapping this routine out for an early morning jog is an excellent idea. Add sprint intervals by sprinting for 20 seconds, then slowly jogging for 40 seconds, before repeating 10 to 15 times. Don’t forget to pack your work clothes in your backpack though!
Park further away
If your office isn’t close enough to make walking or cycling to work viable then don’t panic, there are still some options to get an extra bit of exercise into your day. If you drive to work then you could even make the conscious effort to park a bit further away from the office, to force yourself to have to walk. Even if you park half a mile away, then you’re still getting an extra mile’s walk in by the time you get to and from the office.
Stand don’t sit
If you commute using public transport then even making the simple decision to stand up on the train instead of sit can be a great idea. Although on busy commuter trains sometimes sitting isn’t even an option anyway! Tense your stomach muscles or your glutes while you stand, holding for 10 seconds then releasing and repeating, to get some extra exercise in, or do calf raises - rising up onto tiptoes and holding for 10 seconds, before releasing.
Sometimes these tiny changes can make all the difference when it comes to seeing progress towards your diet or workout goals. Do you have any tips for making your commute more healthy? Let us know in the comments section below, we’d love to hear them!
Ever feel like your 9-5 is killing you? Well, if you spend all that time sitting down, it just might be.
Indeed, numerous studies indicate that the health impacts of continuous sitting cannot be reduced through daily exercise. Even in physically active people, sitting increases their health risks. And this risk has been found to increase with every two hours of time spent sitting.