Alright, I want to help you with how to get started if this is something you’re struggling with or can’t quite figure out where to fit exercise into your daily routine. I have found there are so many more benefits to exercise than losing weight or looking better. It might seem overwhelming right now, but once you build exercise into your daily routine you will find that you feel better, you have more energy, you have more mental clarity, you seem less affected by life’s ups and downs, and so much more! So, I am sharing four tips for adding exercise into your daily routine so you can experience all the many benefits of exercise too. The four tips are:
- Make it something you enjoy
- Start small
- Buy some new workout gear
- Create a time each day that works best
If you have read my other posts or tuned into my podcast, then you know I have tried just about all there is to try when it comes to weight loss and achieving my body goals. This has always included exercise. In fact, I started off with a heavy focus on exercise, I thought it was the silver bullet to losing weight. I’ve been working out most of my life, aside from a few periods here and there, and it’s been a part of my daily routine for over 25 years. However, after I had my youngest, as a single mother of three, it had become a challenge for me to add exercise into my routine. I couldn’t go to the gym. I struggled to find enough time. I didn’t have a whole lot of energy at that time. I’d start something for a bit and then I’d fall off. It took some trial and error to find what really worked. Through all this trial and error, I found these four tips were really key to getting me going.
So, let’s jump in to the four tips for adding exercise to your daily routine.
- Find something you will enjoy for exercise.
I started off in the opposite direction. I went for the programs that promised what I now know were impossible results in a short time. They were usually high intensity, painful, and involved overly complicated moves. They’d soon turn into something I dreaded. So, my advice is when you’re starting out, getting a routine established find something that sounds fun or enjoyable to you. If a program with a name like Insanity sounds like torture, then don’t start there. You can always work up to something like that later if you want to. What kind of exercise do you think you’d like? Do you prefer a video you can follow along? Does dancing sound more fun?
If you start with something that looks/sounds enjoyable to you as a form of exercise, then you have a much better chance of doing it and sticking with it for a while. Once you have a routine established you can modify, but to get started pick something that actually sounds appealing to you. It makes a world of difference if you pick something you can get a bit excited about it and look forward to. - Start small
Starting a new routine or adding something new to your routine is a change and change is much more manageable and sustainable when done incrementally. If you aren’t currently exercising daily or at all, then do not try to start a 90 minute/day workout routine. Instead, start where you are and find something that stretches you just enough, without feeling overwhelming or impossible. For example, you do need to challenge your body to get benefits of exercise, but that doesn’t mean you need to go from no exercise to training for a marathon or triathlon. When you decide to add exercise to your routine try some workouts that sound appealing and see where you are. What feels really challenging? What are you not able to do…yet? This way you know your baseline as well as where you want to work up to. All you need to do from there is keep making progress each workout or week. For example, if you can’t do a single push up on your toes the first workout, start on your knees and note how many you can do that way. Each workout try doing at least one push up on your toes until you can do one. Then go for two the next time and so on. - Buy some new workout gear.
Yes, I’m telling you to buy something for yourself! It may seem silly or insignificant but it can give you that extra boost to get yourself going to get yourself some new workout outfits, or a nice pair of walking or running shoes, or maybe a set of resistance bands. Whatever it is, get some new workout gear for yourself. This helps boost the initial motivation. It also works on your subconscious a bit, sending a message that you’re doing this and you’re taking action towards your goals. It can also do wonders for your confidence to have some workout clothes that are really cute and make you feel good, even if you’re just working out at home. It’s all about psyching yourself up. - Find a time to exercise each day that will work for you.
This comes down to two things really: first, carve out time of your day specifically for exercise, and 2, carve out a time that will actually work for you. If you are not working out right now, you are going to have to build it into your day. Yes, you have the time in your day, you just have to find the sweet spot. You don’t skip showering or brushing your teeth for lack of time do you? No. This is no different. If you can only manage 15 minutes to start, then 15 minutes it is. Whatever amount you choose, stick to it no matter what. You also want to make that time you pick one that will work, where you won’t be interrupted or aren’t likely to have something else bump it.
For many people this means first thing in the morning, for others right after work. Some make their lunch hour their workout time. The point is figure out the point in the day you know the risk of it being interfered with is low. For example, I started after work but later found I had to move it to morning, because if I had to work late or was really tired after work I’d skip it too often. To this day I still do it first thing in the morning before anyone else in the house is up. This moves all that excess energy that gets built up in your body while you sleep out. It gives you a great boost for the day. You don’t get interrupted. So, first thing in the morning is a really great time to add in exercise.
So, those are the four tips for adding exercise to your daily routine. Keep in mind this is one component of overall health and there are numerous benefits beyond that beach bod. This is lifelong, so keep it simple and give yourself the time and grace to implement small changes at a time, over time. As one of my bosses used to say, you eat an elephant one bite at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed. Just take it day by day and step by step. Little by little you will establish an exercise routine and once you’ve got that down, then you can start looking at ways to challenge yourself and progress.
I really hope you found these tips helpful. Please share in the comments which is your favorite. I’d love to hear what everyone picks for exercise to get you started too. If you found want to continue the pursuit of faith, fitness, and joy with me, please like this. You can also follow Faith Fitness Joy on Facebook and Instagram or check out my podcast, available on all podcast apps.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope to see you in the comments and on the socials!