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Improving your reflexes isn’t only required for achieving the leading video game score. Better reflexes are a result of enhanced fitness and stamina, which in turn means you will feel a range of benefits – from better sleep to increased productivity. Why wouldn’t you want to live the greatest life you possibly can? We’ve put together 8 proven ways to improve reflexes and endurance, so you can perform at your absolute best.
Interval exercise
One of the best ways to ignite your metabolism is to interval train. Usually consisting of 30 – 40 seconds of high-intensity exercise, with 10 or 20-second breaks, interval training improves both your strength and your endurance. Try to incorporate compound movements that require using more than one joint, like squats, step-ups, push-ups and pull-ups. This will improve your endurance much more than only doing isolated exercises.
Combine strength with cardio
The more muscles you can get moving, the more you will challenge your heart and your cardiovascular system. It’s a little known fact that exclusively cardio-based workouts actually prevent you from building real endurance. Avoid this by weaving strength exercises into your training routine. A good workout example is to jump rope for a minute, followed by a set of squats, then an overhead press, and finally, sit ups. Rinse and repeat.
Inconvenience yourself
Even the tiniest day-to-day changes can make a huge difference. Place your waste paper bin 10 metres away from your desk, so you have to get up each time you need to throw something away. When the phone rings, take the call standing up to burn 10 percent more calories than you would chatting in a chair. Park your car a block further from work each day, and feel the benefits of a little extra walk in the mornings and afternoons. The smallest everyday changes can enact a world of overall difference.
Self defence classes
Self-defence isn’t just for Jackie Chan and the Kung Fu Panda. One of the best ways to boost your reflexes whilst also increasing your fitness is to do a self-defence class. There are many types of self-defence to choose from, such as judo, karate or krav magra classes. Not only do self-defence classes boost your stamina, they also increase your self-confidence, your street awareness and your overall safety.
Change it up
Next time you’re meeting up with a friend or going on a romantic date, don’t stick to the usual dinner and drinks. Why not try rock climbing, salsa dancing, or an exercise class together? Instead of embedding sedentary activities into your lifestyle, ingrain new patterns through changing up your routine and incorporating exercise.
It’s a common misconception that we don’t have the time to exercise. With the increased workload of modern occupations, it can be difficult to maintain a balanced lifestyle. However, fitness, endurance and reflexes are key areas we need to cultivate, in order to live a healthy, happy and productive life. Don’t let exercise be the first thing to fall off your busy schedule. Learn how to incorporate an effective workout into your lifestyle by adhering to these 5 handy tips.