Hello Friends, it’s been a while.
Today I’m sharing how I went from hating exercise to actually enjoying it. For my own story, as well as 8 tips to make exercise a habit you enjoy, keep reading!
For most of my late teens and early twenties, I was in a constant battle with myself when it came to working out. On the one hand, I believed it was incredibly important for my physical and mental health, but on the other hand, I hated it.
I used to start a new workout plan or routine almost every few weeks after starting and giving up on the last one. It was a constant cycle of hope, discomfort, and eventually, disappointment.
I’m happy to say that I’ve now been working out consistently for the past year and actually ENJOYING it! As I’m sure you can imagine, this habit has really benefited my physical and mental health, however, an equally great benefit is the loss of this cycle of ‘failure’ and the guilt that came with it.
Building a sustainable and enjoyable workout habit is a journey. One that requires patience, experimentation, and a good understanding of what truly motivates you. Of course, there are some people who just decide to start working out and then do it consistently. However, I’m not one of those people, and if you were, you probably wouldn’t be here reading this.
So, if you’re like me and have struggled to find joy in exercise, here are some tips that transformed my approach and could help you too:
8 Tips to Make Exercise a Habit You Enjoy
1. Find Your Why
Understanding why you want to exercise can provide the intrinsic motivation needed to keep going. Whether it’s for improved health, increased energy, mental well-being, or just feeling good about yourself, identifying a personal and meaningful reason can be a powerful motivator. Write it down and remind yourself of it regularly.
If your reason is to look better, that’s okay! It’s completely normal to want to look fitter and healthier, no matter what other people might tell you. However, having several other reasons in addition to this one can be important, but we’ll get to that a bit later.
2. Try New Activities and Mix It Up
Not all exercises are created equal, especially when it comes to personal preference. The key is to experiment with different types of physical activities until you find ones you genuinely enjoy. Whether it’s dancing, walking, swimming, cycling, or even a group sport, engaging in something you love makes it much easier to stick with.
Variety is not only the spice of life but also a key to preventing workout boredom. Try to mix different types of exercises to keep things interesting. Incorporate cardio, strength training, flexibility exercises, and sports. This not only keeps you engaged but also ensures a well-rounded fitness regime that benefits your entire body.
3. Start Small
One of the biggest mistakes is diving into an intense routine right from the start. You need to learn to walk before you can run. Literally. Especially if you’re starting from zero and you’re quite unfit. However, even if you are fit, but you’re struggling to make exercising consistent or enjoyable, this step applies to you too.
Starting out with small steps that you know you can succeed in is a proven way to boost your confidence and self-efficacy in any task. Once you’ve started to prove to yourself that you can do it, you will enjoy it more and be much more likely to do it consistently.
Start by setting a goal so small it would feel ridiculous if you didn’t do it. For example. at the beginning I decided to do just 10 minutes of pilates every morning, as this felt like a small goal for me. If that feels like a lot for you though, go even smaller! If you’re someone who spends most of their day sitting down, just start by adding a 10 minute walk to your morning or lunch break. Of rouse, if you’re enjoying yourself, keep going for longer!
The goal at the moment isn’t really to get fitter, but to start making exercise feel like a habit that is easy and enjoyable. We can start to ramp up the difficulty and duration later.
4. Create a Routine
Consistency is crucial for turning exercise into a habit. Schedule your workouts just like you would any other important appointment. Having a set time and day for your exercise sessions helps integrate them into your daily routine. Whether it’s a morning jog, a lunchtime yoga session, or an evening gym class, find a time that works best for you and stick to it.
After a while, this will become a natural part of your routine and you’ll start to see it as something you do regularly. This, in turn, will alter your self-image, making you see yourself as someone who works out, and you will start to feel strange without it.
5. Detach from the outcome.
Many people force themselves to workout to look a certain way or to lode weight. And honestly, this is one of the reasons I do it too. But doing it only for this reason is not going to help you keep it up over the long-term. There is too much guilt and obligation attached to it. Also, our motivation to look better can be very volatile and inconsistent.
Focus as well on how much energy it gives you, the sense of achievement you get from it, and even how much better your mood and sleep are getting. Then let the fact that it makes you look great be an added bonus! Most of all, enjoy the journey. Watch yourself become stronger, happier, and more energetic each day and feel proud of yourself.
6. Listen to Your Body
It’s important to pay attention to your body’s signals. If you’re feeling fatigued or sore, give yourself a day to rest. Overtraining can lead to injuries and burnout, as well as making the habit feel too difficult, which is detrimental at the beginning.
On the other hand, if you’re feeling energized, don’t be afraid to push yourself a little harder. Finding a balance between challenging yourself and allowing adequate recovery is key to long-term success.
7. Re-design the Activity
Ask yourself: what would this look like if it were fun? If the idea of lifting weights at the gym feels miserable to you, pick something else. Don’t get caught up in what other people are doing.
Imagine yourself exercising and actually enjoying it. What are you doing? What are you wearing? Where are you and who are you with? What music are you listening to? Re-design your exercise activity so that it feels good to you, and be specific.
Wear your favourite leggings and trainers, buy a nice water bottle, and run through a beautiful park, or watch a workout class on YouTube that you enjoy. The more you associate exercise with positive experiences, the more you’ll look forward to it.
8. Remove the Pressure
Make your new goal simply to start exercising regularly, no matter what that looks like. Try removing all the rules and expectations for yourself and just get started. You can adjust your workout routine over time as you become consistent, but for now, just do whatever you feel like doing on the day. Make this new habit as easy for yourself as possible.
Once you’ve done this for a while, you’ll start to see yourself as someone who exercises regularly, and the habit will be difficult to break.
Forming a new habit takes time and effort. There will be days when motivation is low, and that’s okay. Be patient with yourself and understand that progress is not always linear. Focus on the long-term benefits rather than immediate results. Practice self-compassion and keep pushing forward, even if it means only taking small steps.
By following these strategies, you can transform exercise from a chore into an enjoyable and integral part of your life. Remember, the goal is to create a sustainable habit that you look forward to and that enhances your overall well-being. I can say from experience that it really is possible to make exercise a habit and it makes life so much better when you do what you enjoy.
Happy exercising, friends!
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