Active Living
Regular physical activity can reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. You don’t need to buy expensive equipment or rearrange your whole schedule to be more active. Start by taking small steps—they all add up.
Exercise gives you more energy and reduces stress. Check out these tips, articles, and links to see how easy it is to add physical activity to your daily life.
Active Living Tips
Find an exercise class or walking group.
Use local parks and other free recreational facilities to increase your daily physical activity.
Whenever you can, walk or bike instead of driving.
Get a little bit of exercise every day, even if it’s only 30 minutes.
Take a walk on your lunch break.
On hot days walk inside an air-conditioned shopping mall or go swimming at a community pool.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
When driving somewhere, park far away and walk.
Set up walking meetings at work; it gives the team exercise while still getting the work done.
Invite friends or family to exercise with you.
Take a break from watching TV or sitting at your computer by going for a walk.
Active Living Articles
How exercising for just 20 minutes a day can make a huge difference.
The New York Times
Sitting for too long can be bad for you, even if you get enough exercise.
The New York Times Magazine
Tips for making the most of your exercise time.
Dallas Morning News
A fitness class in Austin where everyone is trying to lose 100 pounds.
Austin American-Statesman
Tips for exercising safely when it’s hot outside.
EverydayHealth.com Fitness Blog
A guide to starting a walking group with friends, family, and neighbors.
CNN Health
Another way walking can help you stay healthy.
Time
Active Living Links
External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may not be accessible to people with disabilities.