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Recess is a time of day where kids get to run out to the playground and release their pent up energy. But engaging in an 'adult recess' and making sure to get active daily is important for a healthy lifestyle.

Sometimes I really miss being a kid and enjoying one of my favourite parts of the day: recess.

With recess, there was no structure, rules were basic and the playground was the imagination station. When the bell went off we went outside and unleashed our energy pent up from having to sit in the classroom. Sure, sometimes there was more structure if you engaged in a sport for recess, but you did it by choice and therefore it was fun.

This is how we need to reprogram ourselves as adults. We don’t all have gym class or recess so it gets hard to fit exercise in especially when the weather changes.

How was it so easy back then? First of all it was scheduled at the same time every day. Try doing this with your day. Look at your weekly schedule and write down all the times you can be active. I suggest at least two times a day: one that is short and seen more as a break, and one that is longer that can be seen more as a workout.

If you think about it, as a kid you may have had three to six scheduled activities a day so fitting in two as an adult should not be that hard.

For instance, the short one could be taking a walk, going to a short exercise class, riding a bike, walking hallways at work or at school, taking advantage of stairs, etc.

You could also split up your workout and do some in the morning and some later in the day. When I’m training for a race for instance, I rarely have enough gas for a proper run after lifting weights in the gym so I get my run in first thing or I go as a stress reliever in the evening.

No matter what, I always make sure I do something I enjoy because enjoyment is the whole point.

Think back to the things you did at recess as a kid; I used to run, play on the playground equipment pretending I was an Olympic gymnast, play soccer and my friends and I would make up dance routines.

Now as an adult, I still run, I go on the monkey bars when I pass a park but I also lift weights in a way that mimics that childish play, I still play soccer and I make up routines for my fitness classes.

Don’t worry if you haven’t found your thing yet, sometimes it takes a month of doing something regularly before getting into it and enjoying the way it makes you feel; exploration is part of the fun. Your body will appreciate the challenge of trying new things. It’s always good to have a few choices on your exercise menu in case something doesn’t go as planned because that’s just how adult life goes.

Lastly, it’s great to have a few things you do on your own and to choose some adult recess time with friends. Your friends keep things interesting and challenging, and most of all they make it fun.