We all know that physical activity is good for us. But did you know that thirty minutes of exercise per day leads to a healthier, more productive life? Adults 18 or older need 30 minutes of physical activity on five or more days a week to be healthy. For children and teens, it’s 60 minutes of activity every day.

It is a common myth that “no pain, no gain” or “all work and no play” are necessary evils of physical activity. The truth is that thirty minutes of activity broken into smaller segments of 10 or 15 minutes throughout the day is just as effective as 30 minutes at once. And, when you make physical activity fun, you are more likely to maintain it throughout your life.

Find a physical activity that you enjoy, like golfing, working in the garden, dancing, playing tennis, rock climbing, biking or walking in the mall. Increasing our physical activity levels doesn’t mean we all have to run marathons. Taking a brisk walk around the neighborhood or playing outdoors with the kids counts too. As long as we’re moving, we’re making progress. Three percent becomes a number we can all live with.

Learn how you can get moving toward your own three percent.