Keeping active all year round

Being active every day is one of the best healthy habits for your heart

Being active every day is good for both your physical and mental wellbeing. Regular physical activity helps strengthen your muscles, build stronger bones, reduce stress and boost your mood.  Being regularly active helps to manage your heart condition and can reduce your risk of future heart events.

Read on for our top tips for staying active thoughout the year.

Try indoor activities

Whatever the weather, try to find the motivation to stay active. During the cold winter months, scorching hot summer or rainy days, indoor activities can be a fun and comfortable way to stay active.

• Be active around the house. Housework, washing the dog and climbing up and down stairs are all physical activities that are good for heart health.
• Try dancing to music or practising yoga from the comfort of your living room.
• Thanks to websites like YouTube, you can choose from several free workouts that you can do at home, which suit your level of activity and the amount of time you have up your sleeve.
• Join a local gym or community centre with indoor facilities for activities like swimming or team sports.
• Having your own exercise equipment – such as a resistance band, skipping rope or fitness ball – can help, too. Or find everyday items around your home you can use, like food tins or full water bottles to use as weights. Some exercises don't require any equipment at all, such as squats, calf raises or push ups off the wall or kitchen bench.

Plan ahead for the weather

Australia's weather and climate can be varied and can impact your motivation to move.

In colder weather, you might prefer to exercise in the middle of the day, when it’s warmer. Layer up and don’t forget a hat, gloves and a scarf to protect your extremities.

In hot weather, aim to exercise in the early morning or later in the evening, when it is cooler. Opt for lightweight, breathable clothing that allows sweat to evaporate and keeps you cool.

And when exercsing outdoors, don’t forget your sun protection – sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.

Find a workout buddy

Involving a friend or family member can make staying active fun and will help keep you motivated – even on days when you don’t feel like it.

Whether you go for a walk together, join a fitness class, go fishing or play sports, having someone to share the experience with can help motivate you to move and commit to regular activity.

Mix it up

Consider trying new activities to keep you moving and make things more exciting. Switching up your routine regularly can challenge different muscle groups and keep you motivated.

Whether trying a new sport, taking a dance class, going for a bushwalk or swim, variety is the key to staying active year-round.