How we adjust our lifestyles to incorporate purposeful physical activity depends on environment and the ability and willingness to change. But let’s define physical activity first. Physical activity is defined by WHO as “any bodily movements produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure beyond resting expenditure”.
Purposeful or meaningful physical activity is referred to any activity that is done in the normal course of daily living and accomplishes a necessary, meaningful or enjoyable task (i.e walking to the supermarket, biking to work, walking your dog etc). Examples of purposeful activities include gardening, house cleaning or playing with the kids.
Unfortunately, during the last decades, we have changed from a civilization that did physical labor during our working hours to one where we have the option of moving very little during the day. My grandma lived in a small village in Greece called “Vamvakou” and her job was to collect cotton. Besides that she used to wash all the clothes by hand. What I am trying to say is that she didn’t have all the conveniences modern people have nowadays, and that added meaningful physical activity in her daily living. Modern people lost sense of what their bodies are cable of doing. They celebrate the luxury of modern conveniences that make their lives easier. And I say they because I am not one of them. I prefer to clean the house by myself, take care of my plants, cook my own meals, walk my dog, go for a hike or a run etc. Most people, instead of preparing their own meals, they eat packaged foods or drive to a restaurant when possible.
With each passing year, technology advances with new tools, toys, and apps that reduce the need for muscular movement. Cars, which keep us from walking and running now have automatic transmissions, power screening, and electric window openers. Each small step toward reduced human movement brings with it unintended consequences. Sedentary lifestyle has become commonplace. People prefer to use the elevator even if they have just one floor to climb. Isn’t that ridiculous?
It is now possible to order nearly everything we need to live a home, including groceries, by sitting at the computer, ordering it, and having it delivered. It’s funny and sad at the same time! It has been proposed that modern man expends about 600 to 1000 fewer calories per day during activities of daily living, than did our ancestors who hunted, farmed, and did physical labor for nearly every task of living.
Maybe its time to build meaningful physical activity into our lives. Walking and biking are making a comeback in some countries. The more we do, the more our bodies will thank us. Small changes in your daily routine can have a great impact in your overall health.
