What Is the Difference Between Physical Activity and Exercise?

Physical Activity refers to any of your body’s movements that
use energy and involve contraction of skeletal muscles -
so, almost any movement. This includes walking, standing
up, taking the stairs, doing household chores, and working
​in the yard.
 
Exercise is a type of physical activity that is planned,
structured and repetitive, done to improve or maintain
physical fitness. I usually call it intentional, because you
typically have to think about it and do it purposefully to
improve your fitness in some way. Or to have fun :)
 
Which should you do? Both!
 
If you currently have a sedentary lifestyle, meaning you don’t get much of either, start incorporating Physical Activity into each day. Just a few examples include:

• Stand while working on your computer or using your phone
• Walk around the house while brushing your teeth
• Do push ups against the wall while you wait for the microwave
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Park as far from your destination as possible
• Do squats and lunges while watching television

 
Once you are physically active throughout the day, add Exercise. This means you get your heart rate up for at least 10 minutes and cannot sing (you can talk but not sing when you are exercising at a moderate exertion). At least four times a week, try one of these (and work up to 30 or more minutes as soon as you can):

• Exercise video
• Yoga podcast
• Walk briskly outside or on a treadmill or in a pool
• Ride a bicycle or stationary bike
• Use an elliptical trainer
• Swim
• Play tennis, pickleball, basketball, soccer, or other sport you love or want to learn

 
Why add physical activity and exercise to your life? Research shows they helps with stress management, weight maintenance, sleep quality, digestion, chronic disease management and prevention, slowed bone loss with age, improved flexibility and balance, and even better pain management of arthritis.
 
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans from the Department of Health and Human Resources recommends that healthy adults move more and sit less. Read more of their recommendations here.
 
You got this!

P.S. I know, this was way more than 200 words! Thanks for hanging in there :)
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