Gillian Anderson stays active without hitting the gym - here's the simple daily habit she relies on

Gillian Anderson has a refreshing approach to exercise. No treadmill workouts or dedicated strength training routines. In fact, nothing at all up until recently.

Aside from one year where she had a boyfriend who loved to work out, the actress says that she's never exercised regularly - and hasn't done so on principle.

"Don't tell me that I am not OK if I am not exercising," she said on Elizabeth Day's How to Fail podcast. "More than ever, there is a wellness culture that is actually potentially making people even sicker as people have got more and more into exercise, eating well, macros, and you name it."

Since turning 50, however, Gillian has said her attitude to exercise has changed. "Now that I'm 55, I'm finding it for myself. There's a plethora of stuff out there for people, particularly my age and above, talking about longevity. If you want to pick up your grandchildren, you should move your limbs a bit.

"In that context, I feel like OK. I am actually ready. I am going to do it in the way that I want to do it, and that feels good for me," she said, adding that she wanted to get stronger in her core and herself.

"But it's got to be pleasurable for me. There is power in pleasure. If it doesn't [offer pleasure] in some way, then it won't last," she said.

Far from finding the 'perfect workout routine', Gillian has settled into working with a trainer on a workout app and started doing the "smallest things, like not taking the lift, taking the stairs". This is called NEAT exercise.

What is NEAT exercise?

Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) refers to all the calories you burn while you move but don't exercise. "This can include activities such as taking the stairs, parking further away from the office, walking to/from the coffee machine, or even gentle housework," says personal trainer Charlie Bertoia.

It accounts for about half of the calories we burn every day, whereas dedicated workouts would only cover about 10% if you exercised every day. It's more about finding opportunities to move, rather than doing dedicated exercises.

"They are movements that increase the total number of calories you burn throughout the day. This will help manage your body weight and improve blood sugar, cholesterol, and fat, and improve mobility," he says.

According to studies in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, NEAT exercise has also been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, as well as improved insulin sensitivity.

"Regular movement breaks throughout the day contribute to NEAT, and people who rack up more calories burned tend to be healthier," says Charlie.

What workouts has Gillian Anderson done in the past?

While the actress has said she's used personal trainers in the past to get in shape for roles, she told The Daily Mail in 2015 that she doesn't "try that hard to stay in shape".

She said: "I go through stages of yoga a few times a week and throw in some running."

This appears to be a habit still, as she told Elle UK last year that she meditates and does yoga, and when she allows herself to take "that space and connect the mind and body", she notices the difference.

How to do more NEAT exercise

• Use a standing desk or set a timer: If you normally work sitting down, it's worth getting a standing desk or having a timer that'll mark a break period for you to stand and walk around. Many fitness trackers have movement alerts that do this to improve the amount of NEAT exercise users do.
• Move while on the phone: Walking around the house while on the phone could improve your levels of movement naturally. You could also get a walking pad to use while watching television.
• Take the long way: If there are two routes you could follow on a walk home, to the office, or to a friend's house, choose the longer one. You'll naturally get more steps in. Equally, if you work from an office, head outside to a spot further away to pick up your lunch.
• Move during television breaks: While this is more of an exercise snack than NEAT exercise, it works. Dr Zoe Williams recently recommended that viewers of This Morning do squats during the show's breaks, working out to 550 squats a week for those who watch the daily program.