The Benefits of Daily Movement For Your Health

Written By: Meredith O’Connor 

The mood-boosting endorphin rush of a high-intensity workout is hard to beat. But let’s face it. When life gets busy, working out falls by the wayside. 

The thing is, you don’t need to go hard in the gym five days a week to stay healthy. Integrating simple movements into your day has a major impact on overall well-being. In fact, as little as 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week is associated with reduced symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, better mood and self-esteem, and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. 

In the meantime, we’re taking a deeper dive into how consistent activity impacts your health and how to sneak more of it into your routine. 

Why Movement Matters 

A third of the world’s population, or 1.8 billion adults, are physically inactive. The problem is a sedentary lifestyle is directly correlated with health issues, like cardiovascular disease, colon, endometrium, and lung cancers, and type-2 diabetes. Inactive adults also have a 20% to 30% higher risk of mortality. 

On the flip side, physically active people reap all sorts of short- and long-term health benefits. Immediately after even light exercise, cognitive function gets a boost and feelings of anxiety subside. Moving on the regular adds up, too. 

Those who engage in daily movement have a lower probability of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, better memory, and improved mental health. They also enjoy deeper, more restful sleep and report a greater quality of life. For active adults, the risk of heart disease, cancer, and mortality also plummets.   

How to Make Every Step Count

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