The Secrets of Enjoying Exercise

If you are like most people, the mere thought of exercising is enough to have your mind making up all sorts of excuses why you should not, could not, and potentially will not exercise.

However, with the lockdown we are currently experiencing, many of us are embracing the one hour a day to get out and exercise or turning to the multitude of online workouts that are available right now.

Here are some secrets and tips to really begin to enjoy exercise to its fullest.

 

Get your friends and family involved:

Often we can view exercise regimens as solitary confinement - like a sentence we have to endure all on our own.  However, I guarantee you have a friend or workmate who feels exactly the same way.  

Exercising together via Zoom or Skype, during this period of social distancing, can really benefit you in many ways.  Not only will you get the benefit of starting an exercise routine, but you will also get to chat and laugh with friends and family.

Ensuring you have contact with people during this period is essential for our mental wellbeing.

Having an exercise buddy is great for both of you in the early days.  Especially on those days when you don’t want to do it, but feel compelled to login because you don’t want to let your friend down.

 

Be Creative

Be creative with your exercise routines and regimens.  There are so many different types and styles of workouts available to us now.  Find something you love to do and incorporate that into exercise. 

For some, that is walking briskly and for others, it is dancing your heart out.  Dance is not only a creative outlet, but it is also one that will burn hundreds of calories.  Even if you are not a professional dancer, learning a few TikTok dances is only the beginning of discovering one of the secrets to enjoying exercise.

Above all make the activity fun, try new things and if you don’t enjoy it, try something else, there’s so much choice.

 

Change your View of Exercising:

Only you have the ability to change how you perceive something.  Only when you have associated positive thoughts and feelings with exercise will you begin to override the negative connotations with exercising.  

You will find that excuses such as being tired or not having enough time will be outweighed by feelings of accomplishment such as recognition that you burned 500 calories during that workout or even the simple fact that you feel energised and were glad you did it.

Focus on the positive results and feelings you get every time you exercise and bring that feeling back up to the forefront of your mind the next time you are heading out to exercise.

 

Make a Date with Exercising

If you leave exercising to a chance date or time, you will more than likely set yourself up for failure.  Make a specific date and time for exercise, whether you go out for a walk or bike ride, or do it at home.  Write in on your calendar, put it on your to-do list and commit to it.  After you are done, you will be glad you did.

 

Please comment below with your tips to enjoying exercise.  The U Perform family loves sharing ideas and encouraging each other.  Share this with someone who would benefit from reading this.