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In today’s fast-paced world, finding time to exercise can be challenging. But what if we told you that there’s an even simpler way to improve your health? It’s called NEAT, or non-exercise activity thermogenesis, and it’s a game-changer when it comes to metabolic health.
NEAT encompasses all the calories you burn through daily activities that don’t involve structured exercise. It’s the energy expenditure from everyday tasks like chores, cooking, taking the stairs, or even fidgeting at your desk. NEAT might not seem significant on its own, but when you add up these small movements throughout the day, they can have a profound impact on your overall health.
Understanding how NEAT works is crucial because it can be harnessed to enhance your well-being. Even small changes in behavior can amplify the benefits of NEAT. Research has revealed that people of the same size can have vastly different levels of NEAT, influenced by factors such as their job, living environment, and lifestyle. The good news is that incorporating more NEAT into your daily routine doesn’t require major lifestyle overhauls –– it often just takes a shift in mindset and small adjustments to your daily life.
So, how can you increase your NEAT? The solutions may not be glamorous, but they are accessible and effective. For office workers, incorporating standing desks, walking during meetings, or breaking up the workday with household chores can make a significant difference. Here at the Alert Program®, we emphasize the importance of self-regulation micro-breaks during the work day, which can also have an impact on focus and alert-levels throughout the day. Outside of work, everyday tasks like vacuuming, gardening, or even playing a video game can contribute to increased NEAT.
By making small changes in your daily routine and being mindful of opportunities to move, you can tap into the benefits of NEAT, and understand how to support your self-regulation, to improve your health.