How Do You Stay Active with Hypertension?

Staying physically active can keep you energized, get you closer to your weight loss goals, and lower blood pressure. Lark for Hypertension has tons of ideas for keeping up your physical activity despite obstacles that are almost sure to pop up. Which of these might you use to keep up your activity levels?

Staying Motivated

Without motivation, it is difficult or impossible to get out the door to work out regularly. Listing out your reasons for wanting to get active can help keep you motivated. Some common reasons people have to get active include:

• Managing stress. 
• Lowering diabetes risk.
• Controlling weight.
• Lowering risk for other physical and mental health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, depression, and Alzheimer's disease.
• Improving fitness enough to keep up with friends and family.
• Feeling happier and being more productive.
• Sleeping better and having more energy.

Avoiding Skipped Days

Missing days of exercise happen, but skipped days can be less frequent with some strategies. Might any of these work for you?

• Prioritizing it as an essential part of your day.
• Scheduling it with friends to increase accountability.
• Logging workouts with Lark.
• Saving time by working out at home or taking a shower at the gym instead of going back home to shower.
• Multi-tasking, such as walking while talking on the phone or biking to work.
• Having workout shoes and clothes ready to go at home or in your car whenever you have time to work out.

Rewards

Who would not want a reward? Why not reward yourself for getting active? You can do it in any number of ways. It could be in the form of a nap or a trip to your favorite coffee shop after a workout, or a new workout top after working out consistently for a few weeks. Whatever is a true incentive for you can work!

Steps you can take to manage hypertension include getting active and, more challenging, staying active. By choosing and practicing a few strategies, you can increase your ability to hit your activity goals and lower your blood pressure.