Getting started

How to Keep Active

You only need 30 minutes of moderate activity per day to make a difference to your fitness and health!

The following questions are a starting point for planning new recreational activities.

  • What sort of things do you currently do in your spare time?

  • Are there any recreational activities you would particularly like to try?

  • Do you have any health problems that would stop you from participating in activities?

  • How much would you be prepared to pay for an activity?

  • What type of activities would you like to participate in?

  • Do your friends or family participate in a sport or activity that you would like to try?

The following groupings are just a beginning to get you thinking. There are literally hundreds of types of activities available!

  • Art and craft classes

  • Outdoor adventure

  • Travel and trips

  • Computer technology

  • Sport

  • Clubs and groups

  • Physical activity groups, such as walking, water, Tai Chi, fitness

Active at work

How to Keep Active

Sedentary behaviour is a major contributor to obesity and chronic disease.

Spending 8 hours or more a day in the workplace sitting at a computer has a significant impact on our health.

We can reduce the amount of time we sit at a desk and create a healthier environment at work.

  • Make a standing workstation available

  • Holding walking meetings

  • Alerts on computers linked to outlook to remind staff to get up and stretch every hour

  • Lunchtime walks

  • Workplace pedometer/fit bit program

  • Take the stairs instead of the lift

  • If you are in the same office, don’t email a colleague, walk to their desk and talk to them

  • Physical Activity Policy to embed behaviours into work practice

  • Catering at meetings and functions to include fruit and water along with tea or coffee. Reduce soft drink and fruit juice consumption

  • Box of fruit in the tea room. These can be ordered online and delivered to your place of work. Search Fruit Box Delivery

  • Healthy Catering Policy to embed healthy eating messages into work practice

Healthy workplace resources

Develop healthy policy

Where to next?

More Info & Help

These connections hold the key to many new and enjoyable recreational experiences for you.

  • Local Government/ Councils – Community information/ recreation/ leisure/ seniors directories (usually list all clubs, groups and activities in your area together with contacts); try the Recreation/Aged Care or Community Development Officer at your Local Council.
  • Local Community Centres/ Recreation and Fitness Centres
  • State and Local Council Libraries
  • Organisations such as Australian Retired Persons Association, National Seniors, Council on the Ageing, University of the Third Age, WEA, Heart Foundation Walking, all provide a variety of types of contacts, groups and activities.
Remember: you only need 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day to make a difference to your fitness and health!