Back when I was still living with my parents, sticking to my daily yoga routine was easy. I didn’t have to worry about how to stick to exercise at all! There were no lunches to make, an entire house to keep clean, so dedicating 10 minutes to light exercise daily was no issue. Add to it the frequent walks with my then boyfriend, and it was easy for me to keep around 50 kilos to match my 165cm height.
But once we moved in together, it became far different. My entire schedule changed, I was eager to impress with keeping everything neat and the food ready, and my exercise motivation slowly waed.
But that changed recently, and now I dedicate 15-20 minutes of every workday to a combination of cardio+yoga – and I can’t begin to tell you how much I’m enjoying it! I still cook and clean the same as before, and I have the same amount of time – so how did this change come to be?
Needing Change
Once I noticed I’m steadily gaining a kilo a day, and I have been for a while, I decided enough is enough. I bought myself a jumping rope, and right after I’m done with work (I’m lucky enough to be working from home), I get my headphones on and start working out. After a week, the progress is already visible! So here’s some advice on how to start exercising, stick to it, and enjoy it.
Combine it with something you enjoy.
I do it by turning up the music before I start working out. The energetic songs pump me up so those three excruciating minutes of fervent jumping quickly pass, while the more mellow songs get me in flow for yoga. Whether you spray your space with lavender or put on your favorite LP, make sure you pair that exercise with something you enjoy with.
Start slow.
After not exercising for a long while, I was okay with just two minutes of jump rope a day, and that was the case for weeks. Only last week I realized I was ready for more. If you haven’t been working out for a while, overdoing it can only create a negative experience for you and make exercise something dreadful. Because I did it bit by bit, I literally cannot wait until it’s 3pm and I can finally start sweating! That’s one of the core things when figuring out how to stick to exercise.
Be sure to also keep a good posture – that’s something BackEmbrace can help you with.
Find what works for you.
Wondering “How can I get motivated to exercise at home?” Find your perfect fit rather than overachieving. Ideally, you’ll have some cardio and some slower exercise. That way, you’re burning calories but not exerting yourself, either. Plus, you’ll teach your body how to calm itself down after your heart rate goes up. For me, the aforementioned combination works. For you, it might be jogging + walking, swimming plus walking in a shallow pool, or riding a bike + walking… Be sure to choose something you’ll enjoy.
Enjoy the rush.
And don’t go measuring yourself day in and day out! If you’re enjoying the rush of endorphins and looking at some nice, healthy me-time, rather than doing it for a numerical purpose, you’ll find yourself sticking to it much more easily.
Eat energizing foods before starting your exercise.
Eating a single banana, or drinking a fruit juice half an hour before your exercise will boos your energy levels and make you more pumped for that bike ride. One sad thing for us coffee-lovers, however: try to avoid coffee right before your exercise time. Coffee can dehydrate you, and given that jumping or running will dehydrate you further, you may experience some light-headedness, even nausea. That being said, make sure to always have a bottle of water (ideally, one with electrolytes) to sip from as you’re exercising.
Bottom Line
So, how easy is is to develop exercise routine? How to stick to exercise and how did I manage to do it? By taking care of myself and making it enjoyable, rather than something “to get over with” so I can get into my ideal shape. Let me know if this prompts you to do the same, and do tell me how it went!
16 responses to “How to Stick to Exercise [5 Simple Tips]”
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