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Boosting your physical activity levels to improve your health and wellbeing

Boosting your physical activity levels is important to help you live a healthier, happier life. This is true now, more than ever before.

There are some easy steps that you can take in order to improve how you feel each day and ensure you’re staying physically active. Getting active is important for everyone – whatever your age, ability or fitness level.

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Connect

Keeping connected with people will enrich you every day. It’s vital to boost your mood and improve how you feel. Although we can’t physically be together at the moment it doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected and active.

Live, online exercise classes are a great way to connect with your friends or family and keep fit at the same time. Everyone Health Staffordshire offers free, live, online sessions for anyone who lives in Staffordshire, with low physical activity levels, and is aged 18 or over. Sign up on the Everyone Health website. (Restrictions may apply).
Following current Covid-19 guidelines, arrange to meet a friend or family member for a walk. As well as having a good catch up the walk will really boost your activity levels and your mood. Take a look at the Enjoy Staffordshire website to find parks and outdoor spaces near you.

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Be active

Physical activity is a proven antidote to stress, worry and anxiety – it’s a natural mood and energy booster too! What’s more, exercise is essential for helping to prevent heart disease, diabetes and memory loss. It also helps keep you independent for longer and provides a form of social engagement. Find an activity that suits your age and ability and most importantly – choose something that makes you happy.

Online classes and sessions are a great way to try different activities in the comfort of your own home – and the whole family can get involved too. Active My Way is a directory of on demand activities, offering sessions for all ages, abilities and fitness levels. Find the right class for you on the Active My Way website.
If you are not regularly active or have under lying health conditions make sure you start small and build up your strength and fitness gradually. As well as a series of live exercise classes Everyone Health offers a one-to-one support telephone support programme to help you choose the right level of exercise for you. Sign up on the Everyone Health website. (Restrictions may apply).
Following current Covid-19 guidelines, why not meet a friend for a walk or jog round the park – it’s the perfect opportunity to get out in the fresh air, up your activity levels and have a good catch-up too. Take a look at the Enjoy Staffordshire website to find parks and outdoor spaces near you.
Dancing to your favourite song, star jumps or arm raises whilst you’re waiting for the kettle to boil, a spot of gardening or housework or a brisk 10-minute walk all count towards your recommended amount of daily exercise. Download the Active 10 app on the Health App Finder website to help you reach your recommended amount of daily exercise.
Children should be aiming for 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Why not ditch the car and walk to school instead? You’ll be helping the environment and increasing your activity levels too. Take a look at the Active Travel website for tips on making the school run more fun for you and your children.
By eating a healthy, balanced diet you can naturally boost your energy levels and immune system – helping you feel more motivated and energetic when it comes to exercise. For tips on how to adopt a more balanced diet visit the NHS Eat Well website.

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Take notice

Taking notice is about making time to appreciate the world around you and being more aware of how you feel in the present moment. By taking notice you can positively change how you feel about life.

Going for a short walk can really help to boost your mood and activity levels. Stop, breathe and appreciate everything around you. Take a look at the Enjoy Staffordshire website to find parks and outdoor spaces near you. (Please follow current Covid-19 guidelines responsibly).
Gardening can be a great way to get moving but also help you to appreciate the world around you, by taking notice of nature. Your district or borough council can help you to find an allotment near you if you don’t have any outdoor space at home.
Low impact activities like yoga, pilates and tai chi not only help you to keep moving but also allow you to take a moment to find mental clarity and calmness. Search for on demand sessions on the Active My Way website.

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Learn

Learning new skills can boost your confidence and give you a real sense of achievement – making you feel happier and more motivated. At the moment you might have a bit more time your hands, so it’s the perfect time to start working towards getting more active and mobile.

Why not try some different exercise and fitness classes in the comfort of your own home. Active My Way offers a directory of on-demand sessions that you can try for free! Search for sessions on the Active My Way website.
Learn about how getting active has a positive impact on both your physical and mental health and wellbeing. Everyone Health offers a free physical activity service for anyone who lives in Staffordshire, with low physical activity levels, and is aged 18 or over. As part of the programme you’ll receive one-to-one support sessions to motivate you to keep going. Sign up on the Everyone Health website. (Restrictions may apply).
By eating a healthy, balanced diet you can naturally boost your energy levels and immune system – helping you feel more motivated and energetic when it comes to exercise. Learn how to adopt a more balanced diet by visiting the NHS Eat Well website.
By tracking the progress of your physical activity levels you’ll learn about what exercises are best for you, your age, ability and fitness level. Search for apps that can help you track your fitness progress using the Health App Finder website.

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Give

Acts of giving and kindness can really help to improve your self-esteem and emotional health – and you can tie this in with keeping yourself and others fit and healthy over the winter months too. Here are some ideas:

Get inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore and raise some money for a local charity by undertaking a sponsored walk, run or challenge of your choice. (Please follow current Covid-19 guidelines responsibly).
Do you have an elderly neighbour who needs some support with getting out and about or would maybe appreciate a helping hand with the gardening? Take a look at the Happy at Home website for ideas on the kind of equipment and tools you can buy to help keep elderly neighbours active and happy in their home. (Please follow current Covid-19 guidelines responsibly).
Many parish and town councils carry our regular litter picking sessions to help keep local towns and community spaces clean and tidy. By volunteering your time to litter pick you’re also helping to boost your physical activity levels as well as giving back to your local community. Take a look at your parish or town council website or social media channels for more information on activities you can safely get involved with, considering current Covid-19 guidelines.
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your local community and help those in need – whilst keeping yourself active. Opportunities include community gardening and becoming a handyperson. Check out the Do It Staffordshire website to find out what opportunities are available, following current Covid-19 guidelines.

Local and national services to help you improve your physical activity levels

Everyone Health physical activity service - A tailored, one-to-one programme of online physical activity classes and regular telephone support sessions delivered by physical activity specialists, for anyone who lives in Staffordshire, with low physical activity levels, and is aged 18 or over. (Restrictions may apply).
Active My Way – On demand physical activity sessions for all ages, abilities and fitness levels.
Health App Finder – Search for quality assured apps that can support you with getting more physically active.
Active Travel – Learn how walking or cycling to work and school can help boost your physical activity levels.
Happy at Home – Learn more about daily living equipment and technology that can help you with everyday tasks, to ensure you stay independent, healthy and safe in your home.
Enjoy Staffordshire – Discover the joys of Staffordshire’s parks and outdoor spaces.
NHS Eat Well - The Eatwell Guide gives advice on what foods we should eat to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.
Borough council services
- Active Lichfield - Ideas for keeping healthy and happy in your home.
- GetIn2It for young people in Lichfield – A project delivering positive activities and youth work for young people aged from 7 to 25 years.
- Active Tamworth - Offering activity sessions and sports to help you increase your physical activity levels.
- Castle Grounds Tamworth - A picturesque area perfect for walks.
- Walking for Health Stafford - A variety of led walks in and around the Stafford borough.