6 creative ways to make time for exercise

Finding the time to exercise can be challenging, even for those who are motivated to work out. Between family commitments, work deadlines, and general exhaustion, making time for fitness can seem like a long shot.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. About half of adults in the United States don’t get the recommended amount of exercise, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That matters, because inactivity increases the risk for chronic health issues like obesity, heart disease, and depression. On the flipside, regularly exercising can help lower the risk of many of these illnesses. Among a slew of other benefits, it can also ease stress and help you sleep better.

Sure, taking the stairs and walking around the supermarket count as exercise. But there are other, more creative ways to sneak in some fitness during the day, says Steven Jackson, PhD, OCS, a physical therapist in Chicago. Here are six easy ways to sit less and move more.