How to incorporate exercise into your life

How much movement or fitness is included in your current life? Are you happy with that level or would you like to make some changes? First of all, be kind to yourself as you are evaluating and answering this question.  If your answer indicates that you would like to include more fitness in your life, then this post is for you. Today we are talking about how to incorporate exercise into your life.

Talking about exercise and fitness levels can be really difficult for some people. If it is difficult for you, please be gentle with yourself as you read and ponder the ideas in this post. I am posing ideas and making suggestions of ways to add movement to your life. In no way is this meant to be telling you what to do or shaming you for any lack of fitness in your life. 

Please remember, I am not a doctor, health coach, or medical professional. Use your own common sense, trust your body, and consult with a medical professional if you are unsure of your ability to increase your fitness level. 

How do you define exercise and fitness? 

Exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness.

Fitness is the state or condition of being physically sound and healthy, especially as the result of exercise and proper nutrition.

Neither of those definitions mentions a specific size, style, or look of your body. They focus on being able to physically be healthy and able to live a healthy life.

Remember these definitions as we go through some ways you can incorporate exercise into your life to increase your health and fitness levels.  

Start slow

Don’t jump into this intending to go to the gym every day. That goal is unreasonable for even the most diligent gym-goers, and will just set you up for disappointment. Instead, look at your calendar and pick one time during the week that you can go to the gym. After you have successfully gone for several weeks, then go ahead and add in a second or third scheduled time each week. 

Add in some people time

My favorite part of my exercise routine is the friends I get to see. It is helpful to have someone else planning to meet you to exercise. It is more difficult to cancel on a friend than to skip a workout alone. Plus, getting to see that friend is a reason to look forward to the time (even if you are not looking forward to the actual workout!) 

I walk with a friend before work three days a week and those are often some of my favorite conversations of the week. Trust me when I say that my motivation to get out of bed to meet her is not the path we walk on! It is definitely seeing her! 

Try something new

Caution, do your research, access experts if you are new to the activity so you don’t get hurt. 

Exercise is so much more than just a fitness class at the gym. Here are some unique fitness examples that may spark your interest:

• Kickboxing
• Rock climbing
• Martial arts (various versions of this like Karate, Judo, Tae kwon do and many others)
• Hiking 
• Yoga or stretching (If you have a pup, try Doga aka yoga with your dog!)
• Dancing 
• Pole dancing or Pole dancing yoga
• Frisbee
• Trampoline 
• Geocaching
• Running to enjoy nature and have alone time
• Parkour 
• Active moving video games like Dance Dance Revolution.
• Hula hoops

The best way to encourage yourself to add movement and fitness to your daily life is to find something you ENJOY! Bribing yourself to go to the gym is a short-term fix. You naturally will want to do things you enjoy, so try some of these out and see if you can find some enjoyment!

Use a class to help with accountability

Especially if you are starting something new, having access to a coach can help give you a good foundation of skills. However, having a class scheduled, on your calendar, starting at a certain time, may help with the accountability factor. It is easier to not show up for yourself than it is to call someone and cancel! Plus having an expert who knows many different types of activities can be a great resource to find out how to incorporate exercise into your life.

Link it to a life goal

Is there a life goal or bucket list item that you have always wanted to fulfill? A friend of mine always wanted to visit Machu Picchu. The trip she chose included a 10+ mile multi-night trek into the historical site area. 

Once she booked this dream trip, she was highly motivated to be fit enough to make the hike. She started hiking a couple of days a week and was using the treadmill on other days. One tip she has for using the treadmill was to watch videos of Machu Picchu as she walked to remind her of the bigger goal. 

She had an amazing trip and completed the hike (You go, girl!). She rarely uses the treadmill anymore but does try to get in long hikes several times a month still.  

Use the privacy of your own home

One of the best things to come out of Covid lockdowns has been the rise in amazing fitness content you can do in the privacy of your own home through youtube! Especially if you are doing something new, it can be easier to feel like an idiot without anyone else watching!  

You can also just watch a video of what an in-person class would be like, without participating, just to get an idea of what to expect. Here are some of my favorite free youtube fitness videos to try:

Yoga

Zumba

Bodyweight

Aerobics

Strength

Do what feels good to you

As you try new things, you will discover that your body likes certain things. If your knees scream at you whenever you try to run, maybe trampoline cardio would be more your style. If your body is always tense, then yoga can help you to relax and stretch out those tight muscles. Listen to your body and do as it says!

Write out your “why” and put it in a highly visible place

 Why do you want to add more fitness or movement to your life? Everyone has a personal reason, and there is no judgment here. Make sure this is something that YOU want, not a reason someone is pressuring you to do it.  

Once you have your “why” make it visible for you. Write it down and post it on your bathroom mirror and the fridge. Find a related quote and set it as your phone lock screen. Include that reason in your calendar reminder to exercise. 

We all know the benefits of increasing your fitness level. It is not only a physical health consideration, but there are also mental health factors, quality of life, and overall happiness that it affects. If you want to know more about the benefits, just do a quick google search and you will find a ton of information. 

The main reason to increase the level of fitness or movement in your life is that you want to.  Do it for your own reasons because you want to. Once you have that “I want to” mentality, it will make being active significantly easier than when you had a guilt or shame-based “I should” mentality. Figuring out your “why” will go far in how you incorporate exercise into your life.

What about you? Have you found your “I want to” movement in your life? I would love to hear your stories and how you have added more fitness or movement to your life. Leave a comment below or over on our Instagram page.