(Credits)
It’s 2020, and it’s time to get serious about keeping fit! In this blog post, we share 6 steps that you can take to incorporate more exercise into your daily routine.
Step 1: Decide how you’d like to start.
This is all about the when and how.
Now, you have plenty of options… do you prefer fitness classes like zumba, pilates, or yoga? Do you want to do HIIT or body-weight training at home? Or do you want to hit the gym, and use the machines?
Here, it’s crucial to think of what’s a good fit for your lifestyle and schedule. For instance, if the nearest gym is an hour away from your residence and/or office, then you might want to do body-weight training at home for the convenience and flexibility.
Step 2: Schedule your workouts into your calendar.
If you’ve decided that you want to start off with body-weight training, at home, once a week, go ahead and pencil that into your calendar.
Assuming you’re doing your workout somewhere else, make sure you buffer in time for your commute as well. And once that time has been blocked out, it’s blocked out - don’t make any alternative plans!
Step 3: Decide on your goal.
It always helps to have a goal that you’re working towards. Pro-tip: we find that goals that measure your effort or progress tend to be the most effective.
Here are a few examples of “good” goals:
- I want to be able to climb three flights of stairs without breaking a sweat
- I want to be able to jog 3 kilometres without stopping
- I want to be able to do 50 sit-ups in a single sitting
And here are some not-so-good goals:
- I want to lose 5 kilograms
- I want to go down two dress sizes
- I want to fit in my old jeans from 2015
Step 4: Identify barriers (and think of how to overcome them).
Once you’ve set your goal, the next step is to identify barriers that could potentially stand in your way. You know yourself best, and now’s the time to dig deep!
Some common barriers are:
- I can’t exercise because I’m too busy
- I can’t exercise because the weather is bad
- I don’t want to exercise because it’s boring
Depending on what barrier you think you might face, come up with solutions to overcome that barrier.
For instance, if you think you might lose interest in exercising because it’s boring, commit yourself to switching it up and trying out a new activity every month. There’s stand-up paddling, roller-blading, rock-climbing, yoga on water, and a whole plethora of other activities you can participate in.
Step 5: Get a workout buddy.
Some people find it much easier to stick to something if they have a friend doing it with them. If you’re one of those folks, get a workout buddy!
Step 6: Get out there and start working out.
With all the building blocks in place, it’s time to get out there and start working out!
Remember, the key is to start small and take it from there. If you do skip a few sessions because you’re travelling, or you’ve been sick, that’s perfectly fine… the important thing is that you come back to your workout, instead of giving up.
Here’s to keeping fit in 2020. We’re rooting for you!
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