The pressure of daily life can be daunting, and with demanding careers and raising a family, working out is probably the last thing on your mind at the end of a busy day. However, physical fitness can benefit you in more ways than you think.
Being physically fit is not only about conquering marathons in record time and not only about looking your best on the beach — even though looking your best is always a bonus. Being physically fit can help you live a longer, more fulfilling life, it can benefit your body, your self-esteem and help you deal with the stress of daily life.
Isn’t it ironic how you always manage to find the time to watch TV, time to catch up on your favourite program or the time to get together with friends? Yet when it comes to going to gym or getting physical, you can easily come up with at least 10 different reasons why you’re either too busy or just don’t have the time to break a sweat.
Making fitness part of your life should be a priority in everyone’s life — it should become a daily habit, the same as brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Setting aside one hour of your day isn’t much to ask when you take into account all the positive things you achieve just by being physically fit.
Apart from looking and feeling good, working out can benefit you in the following areas as well:
- Help to relieve stress, depression and anxiety
- Increase your ability to concentrate, think faster and become more sharp
- Help reduce blood pressure
- Lower the risk of developing colon cancer
- Keep your heart healthy and reduce the risk of heart disease
- Help with gaining muscle, which can build and maintain strong bones
- Increase flexibility, which can help prevent injury and help with muscular tension.
So next time you put off going to the gym, stop and think about all the benefits you’re missing out on. Just 30 minutes to an hour of physical fitness a day can be a major health investment. And remember you don’t have to be in a gym to be fit. You can enjoy fitness with your kids, your spouse, family or friends by coming up with fun, physical activities such as going for walks, swimming, mountain biking, hiking or playing golf to mention a few.
How develop a habit out of something you don’t ENJOY?
1. Identify the barriers
You cannot solve a problem without first identifying what it is. Ask yourself what it is you don’t like about exercising. Is it the time commitment? Do you find it boring? Have you tried and failed, (and tried again and failed again), to bust out an hour of cardio at the gym? Are you unable to afford a gym membership? Don’t censor your answer. There are no wrong answers here. Be as honest as possible.
Now that you’ve identified the barriers to your workouts, it is time to start finding solutions to those barriers. If you are concerned about the time commitment, the cost, the tediousness of it all, for example, try shifting your focus. None of those things should stand in the way of your working out. Really. You don’t have to workout in a gym and you don’t have to spend hours and hours doing activities you don’t like. Doing something as simple as taking a long walk after dinner could be a great start. It is moving your body, and it is free. Just commit to doing a little at a time. Take the time you waste finding reasons not to exercise and use it to find ways in which you could exercise. You’d be amazed at what you can come up with!
2. Reward Yourself Regularly
Nothing will change, if nothing changes. So now that you’ve identified what is stopping you and come up with some possible solutions, it is time for a little follow through. You are not going to get completely ripped and toned in your first few days of exercising. It doesn’t happen right away. But you will be able to notice small changes, almost immediately. Your stress levels will decrease, and you’ll have more energy. You may sleep better at night and begin to feel better about yourself. Some days you may not want to workout but if you remember that you always feel better after you do, you’ll be more likely to just do it. If you can remember those gains, you’ll be ahead of your own negative chatter. Let’s be honest, making exercise a habit may not be easy but you know it is the right thing. There is no denying the benefits to all aspects of your being. Until you lose the weight you want to or get that shredded six pack, celebrate your small victories. Getting started can be the hardest part!
Know that exercising is the right thing. YOU are doing right by YOU!
