Whether you’ve taken a break from exercise due to the holiday season, a busy work schedule or just life getting in the way lately; getting back into an exercise routine can be challenging. Motivation isn’t the key to sustaining an active lifestyle, instead we need to focus building daily habits which help to keep us on track.
Start small and set realistic expectations
Change your mindset from “I need to change everything” to “I’m ready to make small changes.” Every little bit counts when it comes to physical activity. Try to include incidental activity such as going for a walk to the corner store instead of taking the car, taking the stairs instead of the lift (when appropriate). If you’re planning on joining a gym or attending group classes, start with lighter weights and less sessions. This creates a sense of achievement and builds confidence in ramping up the intensity, duration and frequency over time.
Plan ahead
We schedule so many other aspects of our life and exercise should be no different. Look at your diary for the week ahead and block off time for your chosen activity. Where possible, aim to get moving in the morning before the day leads you astray and the excuses start to kick in.
Track your exercise
Using a fitness app or smartwatch helps to keep you accountable and identify trends; are you more compliant with one particular activity or does a certain time of day work best? When it comes to strength training, recording details of reps/sets and weights used has important benefits for your overall progress. Ideally, gym programs should follow a progressive overload format which means slowly increasing the intensity of the exercise and tracking your workouts allows you to make appropriate progressions.
· Make it fun
While there may be particular movements that are important individual health conditions or injuries, the best type of exercise is the one that you enjoy! You are more likely to stay consistent with an exercise routine if it brings you joy and leaves you feeling energised. Consider exercising with a friend or attending a group class, this can increase accountability and make it feel more like a social outing.
Remember that leading an active lifestyle is a long-term investment into your health and there’s no better time to start putting these tips into practice. If you would like further guidance on how to get started, call us on (03) 9589 7815 to book a consult with our Bayside Exercise Physiologist.