Chapter 5: Energize Your Life
Warm-Up Questions
- What are some ways people try to stay healthy?
- What are some things that prevent people from exercising regularly?
- In your opinion, do people exercise enough? Do you exercise enough?
Read
Nowadays, many people value entertainment more than anything else. Consider the ways people spend their free time: watching television, listening to music, and playing video games. The issue with these activities is that they require minimal physical exertion. Recent research shows that over 80% of Canadian adults lead mostly sedentary lifestyles and fail to meet current physical activity guidelines. There are numerous compelling reasons why people should maintain a more active lifestyle. Let us look at some of the barriers to physical activity and explore ways to overcome them.
A popular belief is that exercising requires a lot of energy. Because of this, many people avoid exercising, as they already feel fatigued from their daily routines. In reality, when we incorporate exercise into a regular routine, it increases our overall energy levels. In other words, exercise provides us with energy rather than depletes it.
Another barrier to exercise is cost. Joining a gym may require a long-term membership or it may be expensive to pay month-to-month. What many fail to recognize is that there are numerous low-cost or free alternatives. While strength training is most effective with weights, we can still build muscle effectively with only our body weight. Are you new to exercising? Fortunately, there are hundreds of high-quality exercise programs available online for free. Are treadmills too expensive? Running outdoors is also free! Additionally, you might discover more places in your neighborhood when you explore it on foot.
Beyond money, what is something everyone wants more of? It is time. The phrase “I don’t have time to exercise” is heard around the world. The problem is more likely one of motivation rather than actual time constraints. A productive workout can be accomplished in as little as 20-30 minutes. Consider the amount of time people spend on their phones or other screens each day. Could we dedicate those 30 minutes to exercise instead? You can even choose the time of day that suits you best for working out. Whether it is morning, daytime, or evening, the optimal time to exercise is whenever we are able to do it.
Many people are aware of the benefits of exercise and understand how to overcome the barriers, yet they still struggle to begin. They simply lack motivation. We can think about the motivation to exercise like the momentum of a rock at the top of a hill. The rock at the top of the hill is heavy and unmoving, making it challenging to get momentum. Once the rock starts to roll downhill, it becomes much easier to keep it moving. The same principle applies to exercise. It is difficult to start, but once you start moving, it becomes easier over time. You might even begin to crave it and look forward to it!
Exercise is one of the most beneficial activities you can do for your body, both physically and mentally. Weight loss, increased lifespan, reduced health complications, and a stronger immune system are some of the main benefits of regular exercise. Additionally, people who exercise regularly experience increased energy levels, improved sleep quality, and enhanced mental focus. Do not let any excuses prevent you from exercising. All it requires is a bit of momentum and effort.
Comprehension Questions
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
- What percentage of Canadian adults lead mostly sedentary lifestyles?
- Why do many people avoid exercising, according to the text?
- How does regular exercise affect our energy levels?
- What analogy is used to describe the motivation to exercise? In your opinion, is this an accurate analogy?
- List some of the physical and mental benefits of regular exercise, as mentioned in the text.
- In your opinion, what is the best type of exercise? Why?
- Can you think of any other benefits of regular exercise?
Vocabulary
Adults
Alternatives
Challenging
Constraints
Energy
Enhanced
Guidelines
Incorporate
Issue
Maintain
Minimal
Overall
Physical
Principle
Require
Vocabulary Practice
Definitions Exercise
Practise identifying the correct definition for each of the target words.
Parts of Speech Exercise
Read the sentence and guess the part of speech. Turn the card to see if you are correct.
Synonyms Exercise
Drag and drop the synonyms. There are two groups of words.
Fill in the Blanks Exercise
Write in the correct word from the word bank.
Media Attributions
- a man running across a street next to a traffic light by Kaylee Garrett is licensed under the Unsplash license.
- a person wearing headphones and using a computer by Samsung Memory is licensed under the Unsplash license.
- boy in white t-shirt and blue shorts running on gray concrete road during daytime by jack atkinson is licensed under the Unsplash license.
- woman exercising indoors by Jonathan Borba is licensed under the Unsplash license.
References
Arizona State University. (2024). EdPlus Voiceover Generator [Voiceover audio generator].
Microsoft. (2023). Copilot [Large language model].
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure
- Microsoft Copilot was used as a brainstorming tool for the activities in this chapter.
- The Arizona State University EdPlus Voiceover Generator was used to create the audio recording of the reading, vocabulary words, and parts of speech exercise. Adaptations include modification of speed and/or timing, and comping of output takes.
Issue - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Require - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Minimal - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Adult - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Guideline - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Maintain - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Energy - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Incorporate - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Overall - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Alternative - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Constraint - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Challenging - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Principle - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Physical - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]
Enhanced - view the definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online [New Tab]