19 Examples of an Active Lifestyle

John Spacey, July 03, 2021

An active lifestyle is a way of living that includes regular physical activity. This is different from exercise as you may adopt an exercise routine and give up. Active living implies that physical activity is specifically embedded in the way that you live such that it is frequent and unlikely to be discontinued. The following are illustrative examples.

Transportation

Using your own power to get around including walking or cycling. The bar for an active lifestyle is typically set at around 30-60 minutes of light-to-moderate physical activity a day. Transportation alone can easily accomplish this. For example, an office worker who walks 2 miles, or 3 kilometers, to work each day may be viewed as active.

Recreation

Recreation is an activity that you enjoy. Many of these include some level of physical activity such that they can be viewed as active. For example, gardening is considered a light physical activity.

Habits

Ideally an active lifestyle is based on regular habits such that they are regular and repeated over years and decades. For example, a habit of walking your dog in the evening.

Work

Physical work such as construction would certainly qualify you as having an active lifestyle.

Social Life

Generally speaking, getting up out of your house tends to be somewhat active. For example, frequently going out for coffee with friends could involve quite a bit of movement.

Clubs & Teams

Committing to clubs, teams and other memberships such as a volunteer position where you have some expectation placed on your participation. For example, a student who joins a photography club such that they are often active.

Epic Experience

Activity that is fun or meaningful to you is more likely to be sustained. Ideally, you barely notice how active you have become because you are enjoying it. For example, a cosplayer who is often traveling for conventions and participating in local events as opposed to staying at home to read manga.

Mixed Reality

Video games with a physical component may be helpful for people who are strong compelled to use screens. This includes mixed reality games that take place in the outdoors.

Joy

Those who are unusually physically active describe their choice activities as being enjoyable such that they quickly miss activity if they are idle for long. This enjoyment of physical activity can be cultivated and is critical to making it a durable habit.

Education

Ample time for unstructured play at school with rules that prevent this from going to screen time or other idle activity. Many children who dislike the structured competition of sports will thrive at free play.

Children's Time

A home life that limits addictive behaviors such as screen time and time boxes structured activities such as homework. The intention here is to provide time for play.

Exercise

An active lifestyle need not include intensive physical activity such as jogging. In some cases, this is discouraged because people tend to give up on intensive exercise such that it doesn't become a long term habit for some. Any exercise that you can make a long term routine contributes to an active lifestyle.

Diet

An active lifestyle isn't the same as a healthy lifestyle. For example, if you reward yourself for walking with unhealthy snacks, this can't be viewed as a healthy overall habit. In theory, a healthy diet improves sustained energy and mood such that it helps you to be active. Conversely, a bad diet can be viewed as a vicious cycle whereby poor diet encourages inactivity in a downward spiral.

Walkability

Walkability is how practical it is to walk in a particular neighborhood. In many cases, urban areas with broad sidewalks are highly walkable. This tends to make people in such areas more active. For example, people in Tokyo typically commute to work by train and walk or cycle to the station. It is common for urban people not to have a car or to view their car as a weekend thing.

Proximity

It is much easier to walk a lot when you live in close proximity to what you need. For example, a densely populated neighborhood in Rome where people walk to pick up food and supplies.

Norms

Norms are expectations and conventions of a culture including the culture of a city, suburb or neighborhood. This may include norms that are relevant to activity -- such as a suburb where everyone drives their kids to school and they think it strange if they should walk. This can also be related to norms of overprotection whereby children aren't encouraged to be capable and resilient.

Infrastructure

In many cities, a startling amount of land and infrastructure is devoted to cars. Cities that rethink this can help people to be active. For example, cycling infrastructure such as cycling highways that help people to safely and efficiently commute by bicycle.

Right to Play

Children have a right to play and this can be incorporated into the design and regulations of a city. For example, a play street with traffic calming and clear rules that specifically allow for play.

Freedom of Movement

Adults also need recreation and time in the outdoors. This is encapsulated in various rights and freedoms, particularly freedom of movement. This requires cities to provide transportation infrastructure and public space that can be used in reasonable ways for recreation. The ability to freely move and be active is a basic human right.