Let’s face it. Despite the life changing benefits of exercising, many of us still see physical activity as a chore. The myriad of excuses for not doing a workout regularly include not having the time for it, that it is only for the young and athletic and it is challenging and painful.
Motivation for exercise seems difficult for those persons who have these excuses for not working out. However there are ways to start exercising without it feeling like part of life chores.
Small steps: When you haven’t exercise for a while, setting yourself massive goals for example running a 5 minute mile or exercising every day for one hour can leave you feeling dejected if you do not achieve your objective. Starting small and setting achievable goals like taking a 20 minute power walk can leave you feeling more positive make your exercise routine more sustainable.
Do activities you enjoy: Any movement counts. This includes walking around in the mall window shopping, gardening, walking your dog or riding a bike to do an errand. If you are unsure as to what you might enjoy, you could experiment with different activities. Even a home improvement project could be a form of exercise and not only would you have a good workout but also accomplished a DIY project.
Exercise with friends and family: Exercising with family, friends or your children can make exercising fun. It would also motivate you to stick to the routine. Working out with friends also is also a great mood enhancer as the companionship becomes just as important as the exercise.
Give yourself a reward: Exercise is of course its own reward with improved energy, greater sense of well-being and of course improving your body. However as an added bonus you should reward yourself for completing an activity or sticking to your routine. It could be a new outfit at the end of the month, or a pedicure to pamper yourself after achieving your workout goals or even simply an extra hour watching your favorite show on TV.
Whatever type of exercise you try would derive the health benefits both mental and physical. Trying different types of activities can not only help to maintain an active lifestyle but also lessen the chance of getting bored and demotivated from physical activity. So try a sport or join a dance class, once you start you will realize how easy it is to remain motivated to remain active.
