Get active this April

Active need not mean running!

This April we encourage you to move more – and there are no strict rules how to do it. This blog will give you a couple of ideas how to shake, step, lift, stretch or dance a little extra.

Sign me up

You have the whole month to enjoy the pleasure of taking small steps through #ActiveApril. Perhaps make the commitment by devising your own calendar or to do list or downloading the free one from Action for Happiness. This could be done by individuals or a challenge for a whole care setting – set your own limits according to your own body and those of your residents and have fun! Feel free to come up with anything which brings you joy, especially if you currently don’t have time to do these things. In April, actively make some time and reap the rewards of better fitness and mental health.

Get inspired

Getting active could simply be improving on a specific task each day, gradually increasing the difficulty or different fun thing to mix things up a little.

Spend less time sitting – this could be done on advert breaks while watching TV, doing some gentle stretches or walking to the kitchen to make a cuppa. While you are waiting for the kettle to boil, try some bicep curls with the coffee jar. For those with lower mobility, seated exercises might be more appropriate and just as beneficial.

Step outdoors and soak in the nature, check which trees are blooming and how lovely they smell. You could use Google Lens to take a picture of the plant and it will suggest what species it might be.

If you have a garden, do some gardening! Pluck out some cheeky weeds, sow some seeds or pick some flowers for your table.

Take a stroll around the block or get some fresh air through an open window and do some bird watching, especially now that many of our favourites are busy nest building. How many varieties will you spot? If you are lucky, you might see green parakeets, yes in your local park!

Have some April showers plans in your pocket for those days when you feel like staying in. Take a new spin on chores. Play some music and throw some dance moves or sing while washing dishes, or vacuuming Freddie Mercury style!

There is more to Active April

In your calendar you could add other things you will actively try this month. It doesn’t have to be sporty it could be anything that would make you feel good. This could be as simple as reading a chapter of a book or turning your screens off 2 hours before bedtime. Buy a new board game for your residents or set up a new jigsaw table.

It could be trying something new, such as a new vegan recipe. Or inviting some therapy animals, a local school class or an amateur theatre group into your care setting.

Try new habits that could result in feeling more calm. How about some group meditation? There are many videos on YouTube and free apps, which can guide you through it.

Take the simple decision to drink more liquids and see how it affects yours and your residents’ health. Ideally this would be water but, if you struggle with that, try squash or some water mixed with juice. Help yourself by coming up with a plan for how you will achieve this. Hourly timer? Using your favourite glass from your special collection? Perhaps you enjoy drinking through a straw.

Add more vegetables, nuts, lentils, wholegrains to your diet. Or eat a piece of fruit every day – it might be dates with almond butter or apple with a slice of cheese.

Up for a challenge?

If you feel like these tasks are too easy or you would really like to push yourself. Challenge yourself to go an extra mile. If you have a step counting device and set goal of steps per day, if you already doing 6,000 let’s bump it up to 8,000.

You could use Google Maps to measure the distance or simply extend your daily walk to do a touch more. Perhaps at the end of April you will do two loops of your favourite walk or are getting off at the bus stop before yours and walking the rest. By using a fitness app like Strava, you can make your walking route a picture, such as the shape of a heart or a dinosaur.

Running or cycling already? Why not to add a couple of extra miles to your daily goal, or a quick sprint between lampposts or trees.

Try protein rich snacks to power your active goals:

Protein Balls

Banana & Peanut Butter Fortified Milkshake

Satay Tofu

Get active and be happy this April – be safe and most importantly enjoy the journey!