I was an activity director in an assisted living community for nearly 10 years until I started going into various centers around the state as an independent contractor offereing my art, music and dance thearpeutic activities. One of my responsibilities was to design and edit an inhouse newsletter for the relatives, families, friends and residents within our community.  I would find myself being a columnist, cartoonist and photographer a lot of the time too.  Here's a list of 20 things I compiled about being a healthy chip rather than a couch potato.

FUN STEPS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

20 WAYS TO STAY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE 

1 STEPPING UP-TAKE THE STAIRS INSTEAD OF THE ELEVATOR.

2 OUT TO LUNCH-TAKE A BRISK WALK ON YOUR LUNCH BREAK.

3 PERSON TO PERSON- WALK DOWN THE HALL TO TALK WITH COWORKERS INSTEAD OF USING THE PHONE OR COMPUTER.

4 THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY- OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR, RAKE LEAVES, AND SHOVEL SNOW BY HAND.

5 BUS STOP- HOP OFF THE BUS A FEW BLOCKS EARLY AND WALK THE REST OF THE WAY.

6 OUTER SPACE- PARK YOUR CAR FARTHER AWAY AT THE SHOPPING CENTER OR THE MALL.

7 CLEAN HOUSE?- VACUUMING, SCRUBBING , SWEEPING AND MOPPING ADD UP TO QUITE A WORKOUT.

8 DOUBLE DUTY- RIDE A STATIONARY BIKE, CLIMB THE STAIRS, JUMP ROPE, OR JOG IN PLACE WHILE YOU WATCH TV. ( HIDE THE REMOTE, TOO. )

9 KID AROUND- PLAY CATCH, FRISBEE, TOUCH FOOTBALL, OR TAG WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR YOUR OWN CHILDREN.

10 GAME PLAN- PLAY MINIATURE GOLF OR GO BOWLING.

11 HOUSE BEAUTIFUL- MOW THE LAWN, WEED THE GARDEN, CHOP FIREWOOD, OR SWEEP THE FRONT WALK.

12 AEROBIC SHOPPING- TAKE A FEW TURNS AROUND THE SHOPPING CENTER.  JOIN A MALL WALKING CLUB.

13 TEE TIME- SKIP THE GOLF CART OR CADDIE.  YOU’LL SCORE A GREAT WORKOUT BY CARRYING YOUIR CLUBS.

14 CUT THE RUG- TURN ON YOUR FAVORITE TUNE AND DANCE AROUND THE LIVING ROOM.

15 WALKIE-TALKIE- GET A CORDLESS PHONE, OR A CELL PHONE WITH A HEAD SET SO YOU CAN WALK WHILE CATCHING UP ON THE NEWS.

16 NEW HORIZONS- GET OUTSIDE AND TRY SOMETHING NEW; CROSS-COUNTRY OR DOWNHILL SKIING, ICE SKATING, ROLLER BLADING OR HIKING.

17 SPECIAL EVENTS- JOING A COMMUNITY BIKE OR WALK-A THON TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY WHILE MEETING YOUR FITNESS GOALS.

18 THE BUDDY SYSTEM- WALK WITH A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR.  YOU’LL KEEP EACH OTHER MOTIVATED.

19 DO-SA-DO- LEARN HOW TO SQUARE, ROUND AND/OR LINE DANCE.  FUN FOR THE BRAIN AND THE BODY.                                                                                        

20 GET YOUR FEET-TAKE A DIP IN THE POOL. SWIMMING IS ONE OF THE BEST EXERCISES AND IT'S SO INVIGORATING