A prescription for excellence
For many finding the right balance of exercise can feel overwhelming, but staying healthy doesn’t have to mean endless hours in a gym. Though experts recommend a mix of cardio and strength training each week to support overall fitness, everyday movement—like walking, stretching, or even doing chores—can also contribute to your health in meaningful ways. By making small, consistent efforts to stay active, you can build a healthier lifestyle without overcomplicating your routine.
Curious about what NEAT is and how it can benefit you? Click through now.
In terms of exercising, you should aim for a minimum of 150 minutes of cardio a week plus two strength training sessions. This will help you maintain excellent overall health.
There are things you can do outside the aforementioned 150 minutes to burn small amounts of calories and promote overall health.
Non-exercise activity thermogenesis or NEAT includes all the low-effort movement that burns energy but isn't technically formal exercise. Think of movements like cleaning the kitchen or doing chores.
NEAT movements might not seem significant at first glance, however, their cumulative effects can have a significant impact on health and calorie burn over time.
Activities like walking through a grocery store, climbing stairs, pacing while on calls, or stretching during TV commercials all count as NEAT.
Fidgeting, or small actions like bouncing a leg or tapping a pen, contribute toward NEAT and burn tiny amounts of calories.
Household chores, from handwashing dishes to vacuuming or gardening, add movement and increase the energy you expend daily.
Try walking while brushing your teeth, pacing during calls, or even doing quick stretches in your chair.
It can be very tempting to drive to do your shopping or other errands but try and challenge yourself to walk instead.
For those who struggle to commit to structured exercise, NEAT provides an accessible way to stay active and burn calories.
NEAT can help you physically improve circulation, reduce aches, and even improve body composition. In terms of mental benefits, it can help improve your focus and energy.
Studies show that small, everyday movements play a critical role in energy balance and weight maintenance.
Maintaining a NEAT lifestyle as you age can help support your mobility, independence, and more.
NEAT activities can range from simply folding laundry to cooking dinner or even chewing gum.
While NEAT shouldn’t replace regular workouts, it’s especially helpful for people who find it difficult to carve out time for formal exercise.
Things like the type of job you have, the environment you're in, and your brain chemistry can influence the amount of NEAT you naturally engage in.
Sedentary jobs reduce NEAT. Be sure to incorporate movement by using standing desks, pacing during calls, or parking farther away from your office if you have one.
In a study, older adults who burned more daily calories through activities like volunteering or household tasks were more likely to live longer.
When designing your home and spaces, make choices that encourage movement. For example, put things on higher shelves so you have to reach upwards for them.
Simple tweaks like taking stairs, walking during meetings, or standing while working can significantly boost NEAT.
If you think of NEAT as a lifestyle adjustment instead of a chore you have to do, it can help you make movement more important in your everyday life.
Overreliance on conveniences like elevators or drive-thru restaurants hinders opportunities to add movement to your day.
If you lead a sedentary lifestyle and work a desk job, it can be even more important to take regular breaks where you walk or stretch.
Tools like fitness trackers quantify NEAT and remind us to move, helping create awareness and encouraging consistency.
Focusing on NEAT and the movements associated with it can also help build a healthier lifestyle in general. Things like your diet and mental health can also improve overall with a NEAT-focused mindset.
Sources: (NPR) (Cleveland Clinic)
See also: The life-changing ways exercise modifies your brain
NEAT: Getting healthy without a gym
Maximizing movement and the power of NEAT
HEALTH Fitness
For many, finding the right exercise routine can feel overwhelming, but staying healthy doesn’t have to mean endless hours at the gym. Though experts recommend a mix of cardio and strength training each week to support overall fitness, everyday movement—like walking, stretching, or even doing chores—can also contribute to your health in meaningful ways. By making small, consistent efforts to stay active, you can build a healthier lifestyle without overcomplicating your routine.
Curious about what NEAT is and how it can benefit you? Click through now.