By now, most of us know that exercise is a good thing. As well as improving your physical health, getting enough exercise helps with your mental health too. Exercising can help you feel happier, reduce stress or anxiety and help you sleep better. This is because it releases feel-good hormones (called endorphins).

Young people are meant to get at least 60 minutes of exercise every day. But that can be really hard to do, especially if you don’t really enjoy exercise (PE lessons, we’re looking at you).

Staying active doesn’t have to be going for a run, hitting the gym or playing football. Anything that gets you moving counts. If you’re looking for some inspo, we’ve listed some of our favourite ways to stay active.

Learn the latest TikTok trend

Love TikTok? Take some time to learn the latest dance trend. There are lots of tutorials online to help get you started, both on TikTok and on YouTube.

Don’t fancy doing it alone? Get your family members or friends involved too, if you want. It can be a lot of fun watching each other get to grips with the moves (or not, as the case may be!). Having a laugh together will help reduce feelings of stress alongside getting your heart pumping through movement.

Be a kid again

When we’re kids, we tend to be a lot more active. When we get a bit older, we don’t usually to do things like running around the garden, scooting to school or even climbing the jungle gym as much.

Let’s be honest, though. They were loads of fun. Why not add in some exercise inspired by childhood? You could try roller-skating, skateboarding or scooting. Or, try jumping rope or playing hopscotch to really throw it back. Think about what you used to love doing to bring fun into your exercise routine.

Join a club

Even if you’re not keen on certain sports, joining a club can be a lot of fun (especially if you go with friends).

Try to pick something that you enjoy. If you like being outside, you could join a hiking club or jogging group. If you’ve loved watching Cheer on Netflix, you might want to find a local cheer group.

It doesn’t have to be an exercise class, either. Drama groups, choir or art classes will still get you moving. You might make new friends along the way too.

Hang out with friends or your family

Hanging out with friends is often something we do without thinking. If you want to keep active, think about things you could do with your friends that could help you get moving. You might want to go for a walk, try a YouTube yoga class together or organise a group game of rounders.

You could suggest new activities to try with your family or carers too. From walks after school to days out at the seaside, spending time with your family can be a fun way to stay active. Why not suggest something for the upcoming weekend? Your family or carers will love the opportunity to spend time with you.

Remember…

Social channels like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube can be amazing tools for learning new things, discovering communities and having fun. But you can have too much of a good thing. Try to limit how long you spend online (even when it can be tempting to keep scrolling). Trust us. Your mental health is worth taking a break.

Don’t forget that not everything online is safe. Don’t share personal information, and be careful about what you post. Find advice and support at the NSPCC if you need it.

A health warning

Staying active is really important for our physical and mental health. A lot of the time, keeping fit and active can help you feel better about yourself and improve your mood.

However, if you have difficulties around food or working out too much, always follow the advice of your doctor, mental health professional and the people who look after you.