Building physical activity into your daily routine can have a positive impact on your overall health and well-being. If you plan on setting new health goals this year, there are a number of ways to stay active in our community.

Stay active to stay healthy

Being active is an important part of healthy living. Regular activity can prevent disease and even helps you live longer. As a former professional hockey player, I know that daily exercise and physical activity contribute greatly to your quality of life boosting energy levels, promoting better sleep and helping to reduce stress.

The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines indicate that adults (18-64) should be physically active for at least 150 minutes per week. Thats just over 20 minutes each day to start feeling better and enjoying the health benefits. To learn about the activity guidelines for all ages, visit Halton Regions Physical Activity webpage at halton.ca.

Make a plan to move more

Halton offers many scenic trails, outdoor skating rinks or ski and snowboard hills to enhance your health and overall well-being. Download the OneHalton app on your iPhone or Android device to get connected to a list of local festivals and events, or visit your local municipality for recreational programming. If you are looking for ways to get active as a family, connect with our HaltonParents team by emailing haltonparents@halton.ca, visiting halton.ca, or calling 311. You can also visit halton.ca for resources and services to help you build physical activity into your daily routine, including:

physical activity guidelines and nutritional resources for children, adults and older adults;

information about walking, active transportation and cycling; and

tips on how to be active when at work and at school.

One of the many reasons our region is a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire is because there is plenty of opportunity for residents to get out and engage in healthy activities. I hope you enjoy the winter season in Halton Region!

Gary Carr is regional chair of Halton Region. His column appears the first week of each month. To contact him, email gary.carr@halton.ca.

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Opinion | Improve your health, well-being with regular physical activity - InsideHalton.com