A lifetime of benefits
Today is National Fitness Day, part of the Great British Week of Sport (19-27 September).
National Fitness Day and the Great British Week of Sport aim to inspire the nation to celebrate the power that sport, and an active lifestyle, have on our mental, physical and social well-being.
Exercise is not only proven to improve our physical health, it also has an incredible effect on our mental health, confidence, and social connections, helping us build better communities. Physical inactivity leads to more than 20 long-term health conditions such as type-2 diabetes, some cancers and osteoporosis.
The Covid-19 pandemic has posed multiple challenges to staying fit and active with many more people working from home, missing the activity of their daily commute, their gyms, sports clubs and exercise classes. But it has also brought into sharp focus the need to keep active with fitter, healthier people having a better chance of recovery if they do become ill with the virus.
Some sports are getting going again and although many clubs and classes have still not fully opened there are plenty of new online resources, apps and outdoor exercise classes available as well as tried and tested favourites, such as NHS ‘Active 10’ walking and ‘Couch to 5k’. Many people have also rediscovered the joys of walking, jogging or cycling, connecting with nature and their friends and family.
Of course, National Fitness Day isn’t just about one day, it’s about committing to changing your routine for a lifetime of benefits. The Great British Week of Sport is a great time to think about activities you may enjoy taking part in and perhaps trying something new or going back to doing something familiar.
Keeping up with activities that you don’t particularly like or enjoy can very quickly become a chore, so finding something that is fun for you is vital. It will be much easier to keep taking part in an activity you enjoy doing, especially if you are doing it with other people you enjoy spending time with. Another good idea is to set yourself a challenge to work towards, such as the below examples:
Colleagues can access the Feeling First Class website via www.feelingfirstclass.co.uk. Type in organisational code FFC1 to access the site and start your wellbeing journey. You can also download the app onto your phone via the Google Play or iTunes store.
