Reprinted from the Health District's quarterly publication mailed to district residents (Summer 2007)

Ah, summer. With it come longer days and the urge to throw open the door and sprint into, at long-last, greener pastures. But, for many people, summer means trying to cram more into schedules already jam-packed with Little League games and family vacations.

So, it comes with no surprise that even when days are at their prime, exercise can take a back seat.

Talisa Gula-Yeast spends much of her work time helping people realize that they do have time to be active. “Often, they’re just not seeing it,” says the physical activity counselor at the Health District.

Rather than telling people how to find time each day to exercise, Gula-Yeast enlists their help in finding solutions. Physical activity, after all, is not a one size-fits-all program. To become part of the routine, exercise needs buy-in. It needs to fit both the individual and his or her schedule. And, it needs to be fun, she says.

Carving out just one segment of the day for activity is what stops a lot of people from exercising regularly in the first place, she says.

One approach that Gula-Yeast finds useful is the idea of “chunking” time for exercise throughout the day. A few examples:

  • Lunch break – Let’s say your break is 30 minutes. Take the first 15-20 minutes to eat and the remaining 10-15 minutes to walk
    outside.

  • Watching TV – Take advantage of this “down” time by doing a few simple exercises, like leg squats or side leg lifts.

  • Time in-between – Make use of limited free time between appointments or errands. Got (just) 20 minutes? Squeeze in a walk. For
    added oomph, step up the pace.

“We’re in a society that’s very efficient,” Gula-Yeast says. “Let’s say, you have five bags of groceries. A lot of times, we try to lug all five bags into the house at once, just to save time.

“Why not carry two bags at a time and make a couple of trips?

“Sometimes it’s OK to not be so efficient in order to maximize your physical activity,” Gula-Yeast says.

Some activities, like the seasonal crop of 5K runs and walks, make it hard to separate exercise from the fun — and that’s a good thing.

“Nearly every weekend, there is some sort of charity event,” Gula-Yeast says.

“Sign up. It’s good for you – and the community.”

Now that’s efficiency.