Physical Activity | Huron Perth Public Health

Physical activity is any movement that increases your heart rate and breathing. It is important to your overall physical, emotional and mental health and wellness.

Regular physical activity:

improves your fitness by improving heart and lung function
improves your strength by making bones and muscles stronger
helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, some
types of cancer, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis
can better your mental health and self-esteem
can lower your risk of injury and falling
improves focus and memory
connects you with other people

Get active by choosing physical activities that you like to do. Try active transportation to increase your daily physical activity.

Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines

Check out the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) 24-hour Movement Guidelines to learn the amount of daily physical activity that is recommended at every age. They offer guidelines for the following ages:

0-4 years old
Children and youth 5-17
Adults 18-64
Older adults 65+

The CSEP also provides guidelines for physical activity during pregnancy and individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Connect with Outdoors

With each changing season, Huron and Perth counties offer many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you are walking a path, hiking a forest, enjoying a park or playground, or cycling a trail, there are many opportunities to connect with nature and embrace some outdoor physical activity.

Here are some of our favourite choices to get you started:

Huron County

Perth County

Sleep and Movement Guidelines

Sleep is important for your mental and physical health. At Huron Perth Public Health, we can provide resources and tips to help you get enough sleep.

How much sleep do I need?

Review the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines to find out how much sleep is recommended at every age.

Sleeping tips

If you are struggling to fall asleep or waking up throughout the night, you should talk with your healthcare provider. Here are a few tips to help you get a good night's sleep:

Set a regular sleep schedule
Create a relaxing bedtime routine
Avoid screens at least one hour before bedtime
Make the bedroom quiet
Get natural light in the morning
Limit napping during the day
Keep an active lifestyle
Avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime
Keep a sleep diary

Benefits of sleep

Sleep is an important part of your daily activities. We need good quality sleep in order to:

Restore and rejuvenate our body
Grow muscles and repair tissues
Improve memory
Improve learning
Make hormones which we need to perform various body functions

Active Transportation

Active transportation is any form of human-powered transportation including, but not limited to:

Walking and hiking
Cycling
Wheeling
Rollerblading
Snowshoeing
Canoeing

Change your daily commute or try walking or cycling while running errands.

Benefits of active transportation

Physical activity can lead to better overall health. Active transportation has many benefits, such as:

Increased social interaction
Reduced traffic congestion
Decreased greenhouse gas emissions
Savings on gas and parking

Active transportation examples

Find ways to incorporate physical activity into your life through active transportation. Watch our active transportation videos to discover news ways to travel in the region.

Bike and Road Safety