With Amy Martin of Sustrans

With the end of January approaching quickly, many of us may have let our new year’s resolutions of getting fit fall by the way side and have settled back into old and familiar habits.

However, there are so many benefits of keeping active, including reducing the risk of health problems as well as increasing your energy levels and improving your overall happiness and wellbeing. So working some exercise into your daily routine truly is beneficial and well worth sticking with.

But for many of us it is, understandably, difficult to fit a workout into your day.

So why not let your commute be your workout?

Cycling or walking to work is such a fantastic way to keep active and all of those journeys go a long way to making small but significant increases in how much exercise you do every day.

A quick bike ride of three miles could help you to burn 235 calories and you will get fitter without even noticing it. It’s low impact, unlike running, so easy on the joints and great for those just starting out.

Recent research has also found that regular cyclists have the fitness level of those 10 years younger than themselves, just one more reason to hop on your bicycle.

Walking can also be very beneficial for your health and you don’t need any equipment or gear to get started, all you have to do is step out of your front door.

Walking to work means you can get some fresh air and start your day with energy, and just 10,000 steps a day can even help you to start losing weight. Why not measure how many steps you take with a pedometer, which can cost as little as £5?

By working in some exercise into your short journeys, you don’t have to schedule in a gym session to keep fit and healthy. Instead, getting active can become an easy part of your daily routine.

To find the best cycling and walking routes, plan your journey at www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk/jplanner. To request more personalised information about changing the way your travel, visit www.beatswindontraffic.co.uk.