Staying active is part of living a healthy lifestyle, but sometimes it can be difficult to find time to go to the gym. Going to the gym may be painfully boring or even literally painful to some people, but thankfully, it is not the only way to stay active.

Making physical activity fun will make it more likely for you to want to be active. Playing sports for fun is one great way to do this. As a college student, it is easy to sign up for one of the many intramural sports the university offers. Intramural sports are especially nice because there are so many different options, so it is easier to find something that is appealing, and the main purpose of these teams is to have fun. Intramural sports promote activity, socialization and friendly competition.

Sometimes it is nice to try out new things because, by doing so, you may find new hobbies and meet new friends that you would not have otherwise. So signing up for a yoga or zumba class may be a suitable choice. There are a variety of different fitness classes offered at most gyms and a plus side is that some of them are not as strenuous as working out for an hour straight.

Even if sports or the gym are not very appealing, there are so many other things to do. Hiking is probably one of the easiest ways to get in a little bit of exercise because all it involves is walking. There is no competition, no pressure to walk at any particular pace and no worry that you will look silly; the pace and how long the walk lasts is all up to you. Hiking is nice because it allows you to enjoy some nature and you can do it on your own or with friends. Hiking may be inconvenient if you’re going to a trail somewhere out of your way, but if that is a concern, it is easy to merely take a walk around the neighborhood or through a nearby park. Either way, the result is the same.

It can be tempting to sit in front of the TV or the computer and be a “couch potato” by watching a favorite show or Netflix, but it is just as easy to take a few minutes out of the day to do something active. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends that an individual is active for at least 10 minutes at a time and at least three days a week. Hopefully, 30 minutes a week is easy enough to fit into anyone’s lifestyle. Instead of watching a movie with family or friends, try to take some time to go outdoors and get some fresh air.

I think that part of the problem is, as a society, we are more prone to a sedentary lifestyle because of all the technology we have at our disposal. It is fine to partake in these technological activities, but it is better to balance them with other activities that get you moving. Take care of your body because you only have one.