My Physical Activity Plan

Your physical and mental health affects your life. Health conditions like chronic pain, fatigue, and depressed mood can slow your progress toward reaching your goals.

Making changes toward a healthier lifestyle can help you manage these types of health conditions so they don’t get in the way of your future.

Types of Physical Activities

There are many kinds of physical activity. The types of activities you do depends on your personality, ability, and available time. Which of the following activities are you involved in?

Benefits of Physical Activity

People benefit from exercise in different ways.

For instance, many people report that exercise helps reduce stress. It can also help people have the energy and strength they need to complete daily tasks.

In general, moderate physical activity provides the most health benefits. These activities increase your breathing, but still leave you able to talk.

Everyone can benefit from regular physical activity in the following ways:

• Improved heart health
• Increased muscle strength and tone
• Injury prevention
• Reduced pain, fatigue, depression, and anxiety
• Weight control
• Improved sleep

Types of Physical Activities

Many physical activities combine aerobic exercise, muscle strengthening, and stretching. These are great choices and can be done for a few minutes at a time or for longer periods.

Some examples include yoga, tai chi, and Pilates. A well-balanced exercise program will keep you fit for doing other types of activities like raking leaves, climbing stairs, or shopping at the mall. It will also lower your risk of health problems related to an inactive lifestyle.

Set a Goal

Making changes to your physical activity can move you closer to achieving a healthy lifestyle.

When setting a goal to change your physical activity, it is important to be realistic. You may want to talk with your doctor or physical therapist before trying new exercises to prevent injury.

Think about where you are now, and then think about where you want to be. Begin by slowly increasing your physical activity, and work up to your goal from there. Remember to keep track of your progress and reward yourself for accomplishments.