The debate over exercise has been overshadowed in recent years by horror. Horror has been caused by physical inactivity, also known as the new public disease, and especially by the number of physically inactive people. Most Finns do not exercise enough for their health. There has also been a lot of talk about the social costs of the phenomenon, which scientists estimate can run into billions of euros a year.
Exercise has long been marketed through positivity. Positive health effects, comfortable social experiences and a good mood are familiar arguments to almost everyone. For many, these arguments are completely true. At the same time, many find physical activity painful, boring and time-consuming. Not everyone gets endorphin bursts from exercise. Exercise hobby is also one of the most common places to be bullied.
People who dislike sweaty exercise experience a lot of feelings of guilt. No wonder. From the media, you can sometimes read terrible examples of how sports people urge less active people to grab themselves by the neck and head to a nearby jogging path or gym. I dare say that many people who are even considering moving, after reading a view like this, would rather go to a nearby restaurant to see friends than go jogging. We want to spend our limited free time on our favorite things. For some, it can mean exercise, for others, the experiences of culture and art.
It is completely understandable why a large proportion do not exercise at all. Instead of constantly updating the large number of people who move little, we need to find ways to talk to these people. Few change their behavior through blame or overly positive exercise education. There is a need for dialogue and an understanding of why physical activity is perceived as foreign and how the threshold for exercise could be lowered.
Miika Kyllönen
Project Manager
The EveryMoveCounts campaign, launched in January, signals that a sporty lifestyle does not necessarily have to include targeted sweaty exercise, but the choices already made in everyday life will significantly improve well-being. The campaign is aimed at higher education students in the Helsinki metropolitan area. For more information about the campaign and tips for activating your everyday life, visit everymovecounts.fi.
This post is also available in Suomi.