In a world where busy schedules often push health to the backseat, Bollywood actor Mrunal Thakur has issued a powerful reminder about self-care and fitness. The actor, known for her disciplined lifestyle, recently emphasised the non-negotiable importance of dedicating time to physical well-being, drawing a relatable parallel to a daily essential – charging your phone.
The One-Hour Commitment to Self-Love
In a conversation with Tata Play Fitness, Mrunal Thakur cut through the common excuses people make for skipping exercise. She passionately encouraged everyone to carve out an hour each day for themselves. "If you love yourself and love your body, please (give) 1 hour a day, do not give reasons," she stated. Driving her point home with a simple analogy, she added, "Jisko karna hota hai… If your phone needs charging, your body needs charging too."
Thakur, who herself fits in three to four running sessions weekly, stressed that the focus should be on consistency and making activity a priority, rather than fixating on the duration or intensity. Her message aligns with a flexible approach to fitness, where even short bursts of activity count significantly towards long-term health.
Expert Insight: Fitness is About Priorities, Not Time
Echoing the actor's sentiment, personal trainer Deepika Sharma clarified that the barrier to exercise is rarely a lack of time, but rather a matter of priorities. "Movement isn't an extra task, it's a part of living," Sharma explained. She advocates for seamlessly weaving activity into daily routines – walking during calls, stretching before coffee, or taking the stairs. "If you're 'too busy,' you've simply chosen something else over your health," she remarked.
Sharma suggested four practical ways to kickstart a fitness journey without overhauling one's schedule:
- Wake up, move: Before your brain can protest, do a quick stretch, 10 squats, or a 30-second plank.
- Link movement to a daily habit: Do push-ups before your morning coffee or take a walk right after lunch.
- Make active choices the default: Opt for stairs over the elevator, stand instead of sit, and walk rather than scroll.
- Use existing opportunities: Turn playtime with kids into a workout, or walk around during a long phone call.
Balancing Effort with Essential Downtime
While advocating for consistency, fitness experts also warn against the perils of overtraining. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, which can be broken down into 30-minute sessions, five times a week.
Sohrab Khushrushahi, founder of SOHFIT, highlights the importance of a sustainable and kind approach. "One session will not make or break your body. Consistent work over a long period of time is what will give you the results you desire," he said. He emphasised that consistency is only possible if you listen to your body's needs.
Khushrushahi also underscored the necessity of rest. "Your body needs downtime, too," he told indianexpress.com, advising that while intense sessions are good, they cannot be sustained every single day. "Sometimes, just moving and enjoying the movement is good enough," he concluded, promoting a balanced and joyful approach to fitness that complements Mrunal Thakur's call for dedicated self-care.
