I live on the eighth floor of a high-rise building and I climb up the stairs very often to get to and from my apartment. Instead of taking one of the two elevators available, I take the stairs because it is way cooler.
Before I got interested in fitness, living a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly and paying attention to my health, I was riding elevators up and down, completely neglecting the existence of the staircase. I had always thought of this device as a part of the construction that only exists in case of fire emergency to escape from the burning building. Alternatively, taken by people who live on the first or second floor, or useful when both elevators are completely broken or temporarily out of order.
But now, after realizing how many benefits such a small activity has for my overall well-being, and how much it contributes to my total weekly exercise time, I love taking the stairs.
A great way to exercise. Climbing the stairs is a great way to incorporate movements into your day, a perfect practice for your legs which you get completely for free.
Helps to lose weight. It helps you to lose unnecessary kilograms, if you do it regularly, let’s say twice a day, walking up and down, up and down
Saves time. You can save a lot of time by taking the stairs because sometimes it takes several minutes for the elevator to pick you up from the ground floor, and another several minutes for the passengers who live on lower floors than you to get off the elevator.
Does not endanger your health. It happens that some people who take the elevator with you have a strong smell of cigarettes on their clothes, or what’s even worse, smoke inside the elevator next to you, therefore silently killing your body.
It is safer. In case the elevator breaks down or in case of fire, you will not get trapped inside, thus taking the stairs instead of the elevator is way safer.
I am totally fine taking the stairs on several other occasions, because I know that it benefits my body. For example, getting into my office on the fourth floor or at the subway station on the way to work. Escalators in China are quite crowded during rush hours while the stairs remain empty providing space and great opportunities for an unexpected work out throughout the day.
And, I love doing everything that has a positive influence on my quality of life. That is why taking the stairs is awesome!
