Activities for Teens

An important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is physical activity. As a teenager, you should spend an hour nearly every day doing some type of physical activity, and at least 20 of those minutes should be spent being vigorously active. Not sure how to become more active while still having fun? Here are some ideas and guidelines that can get you on the road to being more physically fit.

Having Fun Is Key

First and foremost, choose activities that are exciting and enjoyable for you. Maybe you like to ski, or perhaps you would rather spend your time in a Pilates class. Whatever you choose, the idea is to have fun incorporating physical activity into your daily routine.

Another way to become more active is to participate in common lifestyle activities, which help increase the amount of calories you burn. Some examples are:

• Walking the family dog
• Taking the stairs instead of elevators or escalators
• Cleaning your room

Avoid Being Inactive

To be active, you must get moving. Decrease inactive behaviors, such as watching television or playing video games. Not only does being inactive increase the likelihood of eating poorly, but it also limits the time you could spend burning calories. Certainly you are allowed to spend time talking to your friends on the Web or watch your favorite television show – just be sure to maintain a balance.

Here are some helpful tips to stay active:

• Plan ahead for physical activity.
• Track your progress.
• Try new activities to avoid becoming bored.
• Do activities you enjoy.
• Be active with family and friends.
• Keep track of steps with a pedometer.
• Limit the time you spend being inactive to less than two hours a day.
• Join a sport like soccer, basketball or swimming.
• Enroll in a jazz, tap or ballet dance class.
• Increase the amount of time spent on activities you already do (i.e. dancing to music, taking a walk or playing with the dog).
• Increase your intensity as you are physically active. Work hard enough that you can’t sing easily while doing the activity.
• Plan a week’s worth of activities, and be sure to follow through.
• Plan both indoor and outdoor activities so that the weather will not spoil your physical activity time.
• Spend as much time as you can outside – your activity level increases.

Mix it Up

Being physically active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle means more than simply running or lifting weights. Be sure to alternate the types of activities you do. It will keep you from getting bored, and different activities have certain benefits.

Concentrate on developing flexibility and strength two to three times a week. Some examples of these types of activities are:

• Stretching
• Martial Arts
• Yoga
• Rope Climbing
• Push-ups and pull-ups

You should participate in active aerobics and recreational activities three to five times a week. These activities are meant to keep your heart rate up:

• Playing basketball
• Biking
• Playing baseball or softball
• Rollerblading
• Skateboarding
• Playing soccer
• Swimming
• Playground games
• Jumping rope
• Dancing

Above all, being active should be fun. Be creative, find ways to be more active in your daily schedule and choose activities that will help you to be physically fit in as many ways as possible.