By now, you’ve probably heard that regular, low-impact exercise is a cornerstone of good health as you grow older. But knowing what you should do and actually doing it are two very different things. If you need a little boost to get moving, read on for exercise motivation straight from the experts.
A lot of people, when they decide to start exercising, go all-in at the beginning. But if you’re not used to it, you’ll either burn out, get discouraged, or even injure yourself! Instead, ramp up your workout routines. Start with an easy walk twice a week if you’ve been sedentary. Add more days or longer walks as you get more comfortable. Try lifting weights at home or join a gym to try out water aerobics. Slow and steady is the way to go.
Here’s a secret—most people don’t love exercise. Even those we go to the gym religiously don’t necessarily wake up excited every morning at the prospect of getting sweaty. But you don’t have to love the workout to recognize the benefits you get from it. If you feel your exercise motivation slipping, think of it in terms of the benefits to your life. Will you be able to keep up with your grandkids? Travel more? Take up an old hobby?
Let’s say you decide to hop on the stationary bike for 20 minutes a day. You invest in a machine for your home, since you feel nervous about joining a gym, and for the first week or two everything is great. Then you get bored and uncomfortable. Soon you dread the idea of walking into the room where you store your exercise bike.
That feeling of dread is a sign that it’s time to make a change. Maybe you’d like riding a real bike outdoors for a change. Or maybe you thought you loved cycling only to discover that it’s not all you hoped. Whatever the reason, it’s time to try something new.
The best exercise motivation often comes from a friend. If you have a buddy who also wants to be more active, the two of you can encourage each other. When you don’t feel like putting on your shoes, your friend will give you the boost you need. And when the tables are turned, you’ll be the one to help them.
It’s not necessarily practical or realistic to work out every single day of your life. Unless you really love it (in which case you hardly need any more exercise motivation!) then downtime should be part of your plan from the beginning.
Instead, try using the 3-day rule. Don’t let more than 4 days go by without exercising. If you stick with it, you’ll get 2 workouts a week, every week, without putting too much pressure on yourself to perform.
