Sit Less, Get Active

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/get-active

Introduction

# Course Review and Recommendation: Sit Less, Get Active In today's fast-paced world, many of us find ourselves spending excessive hours in front of computers or sitting in meetings, often leading to a sedentary lifestyle. The Coursera course titled **"Sit Less, Get Active"** is a perfect remedy for those looking to reignite their physical activity levels and lead a healthier life. As a participant in this engaging course, I'm excited to share a detailed overview, review its contents, and strongly recommend it to anyone seeking to break free from inactivity. ## Course Overview **Sit Less, Get Active** tackles the pressing issue of physical inactivity, which is often underestimated but crucial for our overall well-being. This free course is designed for anyone who feels they spend too much time sitting and who wants to become more active without overwhelming themselves with complicated fitness plans. Over the course of three weeks, participants are guided through a progressive learning journey that emphasizes the importance of being active and provides practical strategies to incorporate more movement into daily life. With a blend of informative videos, engaging discussions, and actionable assignments, this course offers a holistic approach to physical activity and health. ## Course Syllabus Breakdown ### **Week 1: Defining, Measuring, and Getting Started with Physical Activity** The first week lays a foundational understanding of physical activity. Through engaging videos, learners explore what constitutes physical activity, how to measure it, and the recommended levels of activity for better health. One of the highlights of this week is the active participation in discussion forums. Here, participants share their experiences, barriers, and triumphs related to physical activity. Additionally, quizzes and practice activities allow participants to assess their knowledge and monitor their initial physical activity levels, setting the stage for attainable goal-setting. ### **Week 2: Sit Less, Get Active Wherever You Are!** Transitioning into the second week, the focus shifts to practical applications. This section is particularly useful as the course provides actionable tips on how to be active in varied environments—whether at work, home, school, or in the community. Participants are encouraged to engage with peers again, discussing their successes and challenges in increasing activity levels. This supportive community environment is inspiring and helps to create accountability among participants. Optional readings also expand knowledge and provide further insights into effective health practices. ### **Week 3: Making Physical Activity a Lifelong Habit** The final week is an exciting culmination of the lessons learned. It introduces participants to resources for maintaining physical activity as a lifelong habit. Notable elements include special guest speakers, such as Elaine Miller, who brings humor and expertise to discussing critical aspects like pelvic floor health during pregnancy. The course continues to emphasize tracking progress and setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals, which reinforce the habit of continuous activity. Moreover, the course encourages ongoing engagement by offering participants the chance to receive weekly activity prompts and inspirational videos for six months post-course completion. This addition is an excellent way to keep motivation levels high and ensure that the lessons learned continue to have an impact. ## Recommendation I highly recommend the **Sit Less, Get Active** course for anyone struggling with physical inactivity or lacking a clear direction toward a more active lifestyle. Here's why: - **Accessibility**: The course is free and available on Coursera, making it accessible to everyone eager to make positive lifestyle changes. - **Engaging Content**: The blend of videos, discussions, and quizzes keeps the material interesting and encourages active participation. - **Community Support**: Engaging with other participants fosters a sense of community, promoting accountability and shared experiences that enhance learning. - **Practical Tools**: The course equips learners with practical strategies and meaningful goal-setting techniques, helping to cement lifelong habits. In summary, if you're ready to embrace a healthier lifestyle and combat the detrimental effects of prolonged sitting, consider enrolling in **Sit Less, Get Active**. It not only emphasizes the importance of physical activity but equips you with the tools and support necessary to create lasting change in your life. Happy learning and stay active!

Syllabus

Welcome to Sit Less, Get Active 1

Welcome to the first week of the Sit Less, Get Active journey! Watch the exciting videos and learn the basics about physical activity and sedentariness; how much physical activity we should be doing; how to monitor your physical activity levels and set physical activity goals; and how to judge how credible the resources for physical activity are. Use the opportunity to engage with others by participating in discussion forums. Join the discussion on barriers and facilitators to physical activity, as we would love to learn more about what helps you or makes it difficult for you to be active daily. Also, share and discuss with us your favourite physical activity resources.Test your knowledge through practice or weekly quizzes and also practice monitoring your own physical activity and setting physical activity goals. Happy Learning! Sit Less, Get Active Team

We hope you enjoyed the videos and activities in Week 1. If you haven’t started your assignments, now is the great time to start with the week of monitoring your physical activity and goal setting. This week we will give you tips and suggestions on how to be more active in your neighbourhood, at work, home and school, and how to travel actively to destinations. Discuss with others about what helps you and what keeps you from being active in your neighbourhood or at work. Also, check out additional tips in the optional readings. We hope these videos, tasks and additional readings will help you to complete the practice quizzes and a weekly quiz successfully. As always, happy learning! Sit Less, Get Active Team.

Choice 1: If you measured step count, complete this assignment | Choice 2: If you used a diary, complete this assignment

Week 3 is starting and bringing with itself new great videos and activities. If you have never heard about the pelvic floor, check out the video on physical activity in pregnancy. Guest speaker Elaine Miller, a physiotherapist and a stand-up comedian, will help you learn more about the pelvic floor and how to strengthen it. Other videos this week will tell you about what leisure centres have to offer, how dancing can help us be more active, how we can make physical activity a habit, and how we can inspire others to sit less and be more active. Remember to track your weekly steps and record them in the assignment. Also, have you set yourself some SMART goals? We encourage you to stay with us after these 3 weeks and get an additional dose of physical activity promotion. We will be sending you weekly physical activity promotional messages and monthly short inspirational videos for 6 months to help you stay active. You can also follow us on Twitter @GetActiveMOOC - Happy Learning! Sit Less, Get Active Team