This article will try and convince you that…
Exercise doesn’t have to be boring and neither should it feel like a punishment for your body. You have every right to make it fun!
Setting short-term, achievable goals is wiser.
Tracking your progress and including others in your activities will reap rewards…
We get it. It’s not always easy to summon the drive to exercise. If you’re busy, exhausted, or suffering from aches and pains, exercising may be the last thing you wish to do. The young and old suffer from mustering the motivation to exercise alike BUT there are steps you can take to make it fun and easy for you to at least get started.
Picture Caption: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older men and women—even those with arthritis and other chronic conditions—can benefit from regular exercise.
Here are 5 tips for you to get started with exercise…
- Exercise HAS to be fun:
We understand. Walking on the treadmill or peddling the gym bike every day can get boring. Our advice is to mix it up. The treadmill and gym bike do have their advantages but try changing your routine every now and then. Some alternatives to consider can be…
- i) Taking a Zumba or dance class with a friend
- ii) Walking a natural trail while taking plenty of pictures for your friends and family
iii) Strolling around the mall while window shopping
- iv) Riding a bike around town
- v) Or taking your dog or a friend’s dog out for a walk (pets are often the best companions)
- Invite Company
A 2018 study found that people who regularly walked with friends were more likely to keep at it than those who walked alone. Working out with a partner isn’t just fun; it can also help you stay committed. You can even do ‘virtual workouts’ by setting up your phone or laptop on a table and workout with your friends without leaving the comfort of your house.
- Visualise a happier, stronger you
Let’s be honest. You did make a little progress with that one exercise session that you did. Imagine where you would be if you stayed consistent. Visualisation, a simple yet powerful technique, can help you draw on your inner motivation.
- Set Manageable Goals
When you feel a boost of motivation it’s easy to set unrealistic expectations from yourself. Curtail the urge to do so. Set short term, manageable goals that you can start by ticking off easily. Getting from no activity to 30-minutes of exercise every day may sound great but may not always be achievable. Make sure you set specific objectives. For example, make a commitment to walk rather than ride the elevator during the week. Or make a commitment to walking for 10 minutes every day.
- Track Your Progress
We live in a world where everything is getting ‘smart’ so you should by no means limit yourself. You have already made the right choice as you have Longlive’s SmartWatch around your wrist. SmartWatches track your progress for you automatically without you having to worry about noting them down in a journal. When you see you were able to hit the small goals you made for yourself, you will only be spurred on to go the full mile.
Remember to reward yourself every time you hit your goals!