Don't you just hate it when you are in an elevator going from the top floor down to the main floor and someone gets on in the middle floors to only go one flight. What a waste of time. Well, now you don't have to tolerate such craziness any longer, as this neat little trick will bypass this person and get you to your destination lickety-split.

However, even better, especially if you only have to travel a small or moderate number of floors up or down, you should seriously consider taking the stairs instead.

Less than one-third of U.S. adults get the recommended amount of exercise each day, and as many as 40 percent are completely sedentary. This can lead to obesity, high cholesterol and other illnesses. Putting some walking into your daily routine is a wonderful way for you to start the process of getting yourself fit.

Walking is low impact and easy on the joints, and costs nothing except the price of a good pair of walking shoes. Walking regularly over a long period of time can reduce your risks of:

• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis

And it's also helpful in the treatment of:

• Arthritis
• High blood pressure
• Depression

In fact, many walkers say they feel better, sleep better, and have a better overall outlook on life than they did before they started walking.

Always do some light stretching before you walk, and be sure to keep your head up, your back straight, and your shoulders and arms relaxed. You should walk vigorously enough to cause your heart rate to rise, so taking the stairs instead of the elevator is a particularly healthy habit for you to have.

Once you get in better shape, walking will probably not be enough for you to achieve further health benefits all by itself, and you will need to move up to jogging, using an elliptical machine, or similar more vigorous forms of exercise. But to start, all you need to do is go outside for a brisk walk, or head up those stairs.