As routine as a daily shower...
Exercise shouldn't be something you do only when you want to drop those 10 extra pounds or prepare for the charity 10-kilometer run. To be successful, it should be something you do as routinely as eating, sleeping, and taking your morning shower.
Here's some tips to help you with the above!?
1. Make it personal. Your first step on the lifelong path to healthy physical activity is to identify what works for you. Give some thought to what kind of activities suit your lifestyle, time constraints, budget, and physical condition.
2. Make it fit. Are time constraints a big problem? Start planning your exercise sessions by making a detailed schedule of your week. Look for ways you can work in blocks of exercise. Can you get up half an hour earlier every morning for a walk? Would this mean going to bed earlier? Be realistic. Don't schedule exercise after dinner if you know that's when you always have to help the kids with their homework unless you think the entire family might benefit from a break and a brisk walk. Look for ways to add bits of activity and recreational exercise to scheduled activity time — an extra lap around the mall when you're shopping, some stair climbing, or a Saturday morning bike ride. After the first week, adjust the weak points of your schedule.
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3. Set some goals. Shifting overnight from being sedentary to becoming an exercise buff isn't in the cards for most people. What's more, unrealistic expectations will set you up for frustration and failure. A better approach is to set a long-term goal, such as walking for 30 minutes five days a week, and break it into monthly targets.
4. Chart your progress. Once you've set your goal, start measuring your performance. Record your minutes walked each day in a daily planner, or make a simple chart that you can post on the refrigerator. Either way, keep a written record of what you have accomplished. You can create similar charts for your strength training, stretching, and balance programs.
5. Reward your efforts. Meeting your exercise goals, even short-term ones, is cause for celebration. It reflects your commitment to improving your health.
Ps. If you’re living in Dublin City centre and want to join a small Semi Private training facility where you’ll be challenged in a fun environment, send me a DM and I will let you know how the Fitness Society can help...