Activity could help reduce your risk of major illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and mobility conditions, such as osteoarthritis and fractures. And you don’t have to be a gym bunny to start benefitting from it; even walking more often could help set your health on the right path.
Improving your fitness levels means you’ll be better able to keep up with the family. If you’ve got your own kids (or look after children), staying active could improve your stamina, so you’ll be better able to run around without feeling breathless or exhausted.
You might just learn to love yourself more. Some research shows that being active could help you improve your self-esteem, which means you’ll have a more positive view of yourself and your achievements.
It could help you tick something off your bucket list. Imagine this: you’ve always wanted to go scuba diving during your summer holidays. But you’ve never been quite fit enough to manage the swim. Doing laps a few times a week in your local pool won’t just improve your fitness levels, it might also make you a confident enough swimmer to finally sign up for a dive.
You could stress less. Regular exercise helps your body adapt to stress more efficiently, which lowers your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety – conditions that are all linked to high stress levels.