Three tips for getting into a regular exercise routine
Sticking to a regular exercise routine is tough, and is made only harder if you are living with a disability, or find mobility especially difficult. However, nobody should have to compromise their health, and in fact, with a few small tweaks to your current routine, you can start to make daily – or weekly – fitness work for you. Ahead, we break down our top tips for getting into a regular exercise routine.
Choose something you like
Many of us find it hard to get into a regular exercise routine because we just simply don’t enjoy the exercise that we’re doing – it’s often as straightforward as that. So, right off the bat, you want to make sure that you’re choosing an activity that you are likely to want to do regularly. For some, this will be a team sport, where they’ll get the added benefit of connecting with others – a great way of meeting people who are at the same stage in their fitness journey as you are. Other people opt for solo sports like swimming, while those of us who consider themselves less sporty may simply want to commit to taking a walk on a more regular basis.
For people who suffer from chronic pain, spending time in water can work wonders, with activities like aqua aerobics known to improve cardiovascular health, while also strengthening the muscles and alleviating joint pain. For wheelchair users, there are few inaccessible sports, with many people enjoying the benefits of tennis, cycling and basketball, as well as lots of other activities.
Make some time
Next, you have to set aside some time to devote to your chosen form of exercise.
Incorporating it into a regular routine doesn’t mean that you have to do it every day
perhaps you’ll want to set aside an hour each week, or partake in it once a fortnight at first. It’s really up to you to decide on the frequency, and ultimately, it’s best to commit to a time slot that you know you’ll be able to honour, than to over-book and risk losing momentum if you can’t keep up with the commitment.
When making this time for exercise, you’ll want to consider your mode of transport and the time it’ll take you to get to your activity, and how that will fit into your schedule. Many people enjoy exercising at home so that they can skip the travel journey, but still reap the same physical and mental health benefits that regular exercise offers.
Take it slow
The key to sustaining any routine is to not overwhelm yourself with taking on too much in the first instance. After all, if we dive head-first into any activity, we can get put off for the long-term if it doesn’t immediately meet our expectations. For beginners, it’s best to be realistic about your fitness level and abilities, and gradually increase the intensity of your exercise as your fitness level increases.
Starting out slow is all about not being hard on yourself. You may start one activity, only to find that you haven’t enjoyed it and want to try dipping your toes in another. The important thing to remember is that you’ve taken a step, and as long as you commit to trying out some form of exercise during your regular allocated time slot, you’re on the right track – and before you know it, you’ll have found an activity that keeps you coming back on a frequent basis.
In summary
Committing to a regular exercise routine is a great way to keep your body and mind healthy – on top of this, it can be incredibly fun and emotionally rewarding. While any new journey can be hard when you first start out, this is one worth pursuing. After all, taking care of your body is one of the most wonderful ways to be kind to yourself.
Author Bio:
Harriet has a keen interest in the science of exercise, and for a number of years has devoted her time to working with people who want to improve their fitness levels and mobility. She believes in the power of thought, and shares that with the right mindset and a little bit of support, even the most challenging of fitness goals can be achieved.