In order to maintain our mental and physical health, balance, coordination, and focus, we need to move. Physically move, with purpose. Understanding the importance of keeping ourselves moving, is a step forward in maintaining our health. This is particularly critical as the aging process begins.
We used to have to walk inside into places to do ordinary tasks - dropping/picking up dry cleaning, groceries, coffee, food - now, with drive thru windows and curbside delivery, we don't even need to get out of our cars. The non movement leads to unhealthy sedentary behavior patterns. After a while, we become used to the conveniences being offered to us, and we forget how we are really harming our own selves.
Movement of our bodies takes effort. Recent universal events, including advanced technology allowing us the ease of obtaining virtually anything without leaving our homes, and, an increasingly large number of people working from home, are contributing to a lack of physical movement in our society. Although it may be a big convenience to have anything we want delivered to us instantly, we are slowly becoming accustomed to not having to move. Ultimately, this can lead to long term detrimental effects. Illnesses related to weight gain caused by an inactive lifestyle are abundant and on the rise. Physical illnesses may be visible, but the emotional ailments are not so apparent, signs of depression, anxiety, and other mental conditions. This is a societal impact - with no social interactions, we are leaning towards becoming even more isolated.
Become aware and determine to make simple physical activity part of the daily routine. Changing and re training ourselves to get out of the car to run errands, raking leaves this fall, simple tasks which can be done with our feet, should be done simply, with physically moving our bodies.