• Incidental exercise can be done nearly anytime, anywhere.making exercise image by IKO from Fotolia.com
  
  In our modernized world, people have to do precious little to live their daily lives. The downside to this progress is that people don't have to use their bodies the way previous generations had to, leading to a sedentary lifestyle that is attributed to certain diseases. These are mainly caused by high-caloric foods coupled with low activity. Incidental exercise, the activities involved in daily living, can be incorporated into almost anyone's schedule.
  
  

At Work

• If you drive to work, a simple way to incorporate exercise into your daily routine is to park as far away as possible, thus forcing a longer walk to work. This method also can be applied when going to the grocery store, mall, etc. Try using the Three-Stair Rule (or Five-Stair, if you're daring). Choose the stairs instead of the elevator to reach any floor that's less than three floors away. It's a simple way to engage in some quick cardio.
  
  

At Home

• Household chores are a great way to get in some quick exercise. A menial chore like folding and putting away laundry can be amped up by placing the laundry basket in the center of the room (or another room) and going back and forth to put one piece away at a time. Other chores, such as taking out the trash, mowing the lawn, gardening, or walking the family dog, can be good excuses to get in some exercise, as long as they are performed with quicker tempos than usual. When dog-walking, take an alternate route that includes a hill or is a bit longer than usual.
  
  

At Play

• Television or computer use accounts for a large portion of sedentary leisure time, but it can also be used to get some incidental exercise. Commercial breaks are usually two to three minutes long, and downloading movies and video can take every bit as long, or longer. At every break or download time, do some mild stretching or simple deep knee bends to get your blood flowing. Walking when talking on the phone is another way to get exercise, a simple technique many people choose when talking with friends.