Get active in the brighter nights to boost your physical and mental health

get active

As the nights get brighter, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging people to get out and get active.

 

Colette Brolly, the PHA’s joint lead on Obesity and Physical Activity, said: “Being physically active is really important and daily activity will help you feel better, manage stress, improve your sleep and help you maintain a healthy weight.

 

“During lockdown understandably a lot of people wouldn’t have been as active as previously. As the restrictions ease and people start to feel more confident in getting out and about, it is good opportunity to set yourself a challenge to get fitter.  For example, you could use the NHS Couch to 5k resources to build up running gradually.”

 

Colette said that being active is something that can make you happy, it is a chance for you to have some fun, it lets you connect with others and can also relieve boredom. “I would encourage everyone who can, to take exercise every day.

 

“Whether it’s playing games with the kids, running, walking, cycling or doing a bit of gardening, these are all good ways to relieve stress and keep active.”

 

Whilst enjoying physical activity, it is important that you keep within the current COVID-19 guidelines as this will help you play your part in stopping coronavirus from spreading.

 

It is important to wash your hands when you get home as well.

 

Top tips:

 

  • If you haven’t exercised in a while it is important to build up gradually as every movement counts;

 

  • Build exercise and activity time into your day at regular intervals;

 

  • Play active games with the kids, dance, go into the garden if you've got one;
  • Break up periods of not moving by changing where you are sitting, moving about, doing some chores, going outside if you can, don’t get stuck in one place.

 

Information on the current restrictions is available at www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-regulations-guidance-what-restrictions-mean-you

 

Information and tips on getting active at www.choosetolivebetter.com/content/getting-active

 

You can find out more about the NHS Couch to 5k at www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/