大象传媒

1. Walking

The simplest, cheapest and easiest way to add a dash of much needed activity into your life. It can be simple as getting off the bus a couple of stops early, spending your lunch hour wandering around a local park or planning some multi-stage hiking extravaganza up Scafell Pike. Walking can help with depression, lower blood pressure and helps to protect your heart.

You’ll be joining famous walkers from history such as Charles Dickens (up to 20 miles at a time), Virginia Woolf (who loved her London parks) and George Orwell (who noted how far he’d walked in his diaries). Trapped in the office? Try taking the stairs rather than the lift or pop out to that coffee shop that’s slightly further away than your regular coffee shop. Still not sure? Try our guide on how to successfully have a walk.

2. Running

When ‘jogging’ became a fad in the 1970s, it was much-mocked and heartily disregarded. Now, no one would dare admit to jogging, while running has turned into something approaching a religion. It can certainly be daunting to the uninitiated, but it’s as simple as getting a decent pair of trainers, going at your own pace and not pushing yourself too hard or too often.

Perhaps you can even convince your workplace to install one of those new fangled treadmill desks? (OK maybe not) Or maybe you could try the odd gentle run into the office? (If they have showers). A 2012 study found that 30 minutes of running per week can improve sleep quality, mood, and concentration.The is a great way to get started, or listen to the inspirational tale of Vybarr Cregan Reid.

3. Gardening

Not all activities have to involve investing in special equipment or mastering a new pursuit. Every keen gardener will readily tell you about its health benefits, both physical and mental. But now there’s scientific evidence that proves its benefits. Horticultural therapy is used in hospitals to treat patients, plan civic parks and gardens to improve cities and is even employed to calm prisoners.

One study showed that regular energetic gardening could provide the same positive health benefits as running or swimming. No garden? Look into allotments, conservation projects or guerrilla gardening groups in your local area. Or beg one of your work colleagues or friends into letting you come round and dig up their patio.

4. Cycling

Much like running, some people take their cycling very, very seriously. Bikes that cost as much as cars, helmet cams, safety gear and acres of lycra - there’s plenty to get serious about. But cycling should be about fun and reconnecting with that joyful childhood feeling that only a good bike ride can inspire. There’s no need to go Bradley Wigginsning from the off - if you’re new or inexperienced, see if you can borrow a bike, then find a quiet spot to practice and build up confidence.

It’s excellent for health and eminently practical - getting you from A to B in an environmentally advantageous manner. And it’s the perfect way to get a bit of exercise as travel into, and more importantly away from, work. There’s a reason its the most popular form of transport on the planet. For further inspiration here’s author and life-long cyclist Rob Penn on why bicycles are so beloved.

5. Exercise with benefits

OK, so this particular activity might not be for everyone, but author David Sedaris, after trying a failing to cycle for fitness, took to litter picking around Sussex as a way to keep his Fitbit happy.

While spending hours fishing discarded plastic bags from treetops might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it does show that there are activities for all - you may just need to do some digging to find it. (Digging, that’s a good one)

6. Make it fun

Convince your workplace that a weekly yoga or aerobic session would be beneficial. You could even try performing yoga with your dog (called doga, obviously), join a viking themed bootcamp group (where you pull anvils and lift barrels - just like the viking used to do) or even rave yourself to a better bod with ravercise!

Or, you could just go for a nice long walk. Whatever floats your boat.

Before you set off though, here is a clip with some information on what is the best food to fuel your activity...