Find an exercise you enjoy
You probably know many people who start an exercise program quickly abandon it, and you may be someone who has done this in the past. It’s important to find an exercise you enjoy so it's easier to stick to it. Don't be afraid to try something completely new!
After graduate school, I lived a sedentary life working a desk job. I needed some physical activity, but didn't know exactly what. I always wanted to do gymnastics as a kid, so I signed up for tumbling lessons. They occurred only once a week, which wasn't enough. Next, I signed up for 2 weeks of rollerderby. It was fun, but not quite everything I wanted.
Finally, A coworker at the time mentioned his crossfit gym was offering a free month of unlimited classes for anyone interested, and that stuck. I attended for the month, signed up for a membership and was a crossfitter for a year. Through crossfit I discovered my passion for olympic weightlifting, and 2 years later, powerlifting. Moral of the story: don't be afraid to try something new! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Join a gym and check out the classes offered
- Do a google (or social media) search for potential group meetups in your area (i.e. running groups, biking groups, hiking groups, whatever you see that may spark your interest)
- Invest in a virtual reality setup (I tried virtual reality games while visiting a friend, and it was SUPER fun and a great workout!)
- Bring a friend along! New things can be less scary with a buddy in tow.
Find/Make the Time
Most people who want to exercise more don’t do so because they don’t believe they have the time. We often tell ourselves we aren't capable of something, but this is not true, and the same goes with having time to exercise. Having the time is all about finding and making the time. If you are able to commit an hour plus, that's great. If not, here are some simple ways to get you thinking about finding time:
- Start small: park further away, take the stairs rather than the elevator, go for a walk on your lunch break (if able)
- Take your dog for a walk
- Play with your kids (those of you with little ones know how much of a workout this can be!)
- Look for opportunities to combine exercise with other activities: walk around the house/on a treadmill while talking on the phone or listening to a podcast/audiobook. if you work a desk job, get an under-desk peddler like this one.
Commit to Making Exercise Part of Your Daily Routine
The last thing to keep in mind when trying to exercise more is committing to it. The last thing you want to do when starting to exercise is fall off and have to restart – again. Preventing this requires a solid commitment, not just to exercising, but really to yourself. You deserve to be happy and healthy! The below tips can help you be successful.
- Plan to exercise ahead of time; don't leave it up to chance whether you get to it or not.
- Try to exercise at the same time each day/instance.
- Make it part of your routine. If you do the above two things, this should start to happen naturally as you become more consistent.
Keeping your body healthy and fit is a great way to reduce stress and live a happier life. In order to make it easier to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, make sure to find an exercise you enjoy, and find or make the time to exercise. Now that you know how to get started, all you need to do is put these tips into practice and you'll be well on your way!
