Take the Stairs

My new office is on the sixth floor, and while waiting for a slow elevator the other day, it occurred to me that I was missing a prime opportunity for exercise. So I turned away, and took the stairs. In the days since, I've used the elevators less and less. It's a great way to get some incidental exercise, and it reduces energy costs to run the elevators. Here are some related tips:

* Walk to a park or a more distant cafe for lunch.
* Use the restroom on another floor and take the stairs.
* Leave something important in your car (your lunch, your cell phone, etc.) so you have to run out to get it (and take the stairs).
* Deliver documents or messages to co-workers in person rather than by email.
* Volunteer to meet people in their office, then walk over.
* Stand or walk while you talk on the phone.
* Use a pedometer and keep track of how many steps you take. Aim for 6,000 to 10,000 steps a day.
* Carry comfortable shoes for workday walking.
* Go for a short walk after work (and miss some of the rush hour traffic!)

These are some great ways to get active and walk with a purpose, and remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!