Having a regular exercise routine is crucial for each one of us, not only because of its many health benefits, but also because of the mental and social ones. However, even though we all know that we should be exercising, a lot of us find every excuse in the book not to do it. And yes, we live busy lives and it’s not exactly easy to fit in regular workouts. The key is to find a routine that you love and that fits well within your schedule, so that you will be able to keep up with it.
Here’s how to do it:
Find The Right Time
For some people, the best time of the day to fit in a workout is in the morning. It’s a way to energize yourself and give yourself motivation to face the day. However, you will have to choose a specific workout for this time of day, because if you choose one that is very tiring, you will spend the rest of the day lethargic and without any energy. Or perhaps the best time for you is in the evening, unless you’re the type of person who likes to kick their feet up when they get back from work and not leave the house until next morning. If that’s the case, then you might want to squeeze in your workout right after work, or in your lunch break, so that once you come home there’s no need to go out again.
Focus On The Goal
People might have different goals, which they want to achieve, concerning their physical health or appearance, but the one thing that we all achieve with regular exercise (presuming we are exercising in a safe way) is a stronger body, increased stamina and, generally, a healthier life, because what we do today will mean a lot in a few decades when our bodies aren’t nearly as strong and endurable as they are now. Make sure you are focusing on the fact that with every single step you are working towards a healthier future, and use that as your main motivation.
Find The Right Workout
The first thing you have to learn is how to find your soulmate workout, one that you will not only be able to endure, but that you will love doing. Finding the right workout isn’t always easy, and you will probably have to go through a lot of different sports until you find something you really love. On one hand, you can try a sport that some of your friends or family do, because having that support system in place will allow you to get to know the workout and it will keep you going. On the other hand, you can try to venture out and find something you’ve always wanted to do: Anyone can be a ballroom dancer, do a real dance or play in a team sport, if they just have the will. It’s perfectly fine to try something and after finding it doesn’t suit you, switch to something else. You don’t have to “stick with it” for a year before realising you don’t like it. You can also try to make it into a group activity with your family so that you can have working out and family time all in one. Forget about the stereotypes which spread the idea that people of certain gender or size shouldn’t do some sports and do what makes you feel good.
Fuel Yourself Properly
We can’t talk about exercise without talking about proper nutrition. It’s extremely important to give your body sufficient fuel to get through the workout, while at the same time not overeating or consuming empty calories. Everything you put in your body needs to be nutritious and to have the building blocks for a healthy body. Make sure you are consuming protein after a hard workout, because it will help your muscles recover and build up. Make sure you are hydrated, because your body temperature raises when you are exercising and you sweat more to cool down, so bring a bottle of water.
Once you get into a routine of exercising, it will get much easier, and the only hitch that can happen is a long break that you don’t recover from, so try not to have too long of a break. Soon, exercising will become second nature and you won’t be able to imagine your day without it.
