Summer is a BUSY time of year and we tend to be pulled in many directions, sometimes at the expense of our own health and fitness goals. I always recommend letting go of perfection, making incremental changes, and getting back into a rhythm as soon as you can. It happens to us all, and even on days we don’t get a workout in, there are small changes we can make to maximize the impact of our daily movement.

Just remember to keep it NEAT!

Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is a concept that I love to share with my clients because it’s a way to get big results over time through small changes now. NEAT is the energy (calories) your body burns when you are not working out but simply living your life (household tasks, working, personal care, etc).  Your body is going to burn calories regardless, so why not maximize it with some easy tweaks?

Increasing NEAT is simple and really comes down to increasing your movement in small ways and for short periods. Over the course of the day, they really add up to a big impact.

Here are some simple everyday ideas:

• Park further away in a parking lot
• Play in the pool with your kids
• Take the stairs vs an elevator or escalator
• Do more household chores and yard work
• Walk your dog and take an extra spin around the block
• Find reasons to walk upstairs more in your home
• Track your steps with a pedometer or other tracking device
• Stand when you can (vs sitting) – standing desks are great!

Pick one of these to incorporate into your daily routine – you’ll burn more calories just living your life and become the healthiest version of yourself.  Make this summer a NEAT summer! I’d love to hear which you’re picking! Comment below.