Overcoming Obstacles to Initiate a Fitness Routine: Strategies to Kickstart Your Exercise Journey
Introduction
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut regarding your fitness routine. You may have the best intentions, but then life gets busy, and you make excuses for not following through on your promise to work out more often. But what about those times when you’re ready to make changes? If you’re looking for ways to make sure your new workout routine sticks, these tips will help:
Identify your barriers to starting a workout routine
- You don’t want to.
- You don’t have time.
- You’re too busy with work, kids and other responsibilities.
- It’s too cold outside (or hot).
- Your gym membership doesn’t work out for you, and it’s not worth the money (or cost of equipment).
Break up your workouts into manageable chunks.
You can break up your workouts into manageable chunks by restructuring them. For example, instead of one hour-long workout five days a week, you could do three 30-minute and two 20-minute workouts. This way, you can spread out the time spent working out each day and make it easier to fit it into your schedule.
Another way to break up a workout is by combining different types of exercises during one session. For example, if your goal is weight loss, try alternating between cardio exercises (like running or cycling) with resistance training (like lifting weights).
Keep in mind that even though breaking up your workouts into smaller chunks might seem easier at first glance because it gives us more flexibility when planning our days/weeks/etc., there are still some risks associated with this strategy: * Your motivation may drop off over time if all those small sessions add up together so much faster than expected; * It might be difficult keeping track of how much exercise has been done since there aren’t any clear markers along the way like there would be if we were only doing one thing at once;
Get encouragement from a friend, or join a class or training session with others.
- Get encouragement from a friend, or join a class or training session with others.
- You may find it easier to stay motivated if you have someone around to encourage you.
- Examples of classes/training sessions include Zumba, martial arts classes and personal training sessions (which can be done one-on-one).
Don’t be overly ambitious and set unrealistic goals for yourself.
When setting fitness goals, it’s essential not to be overly ambitious and set unrealistic expectations for yourself. If you are starting and trying to get into shape, don’t try to do too much at once or make drastic changes in your lifestyle to reach those goals. Instead, start small and take it one step at a time to make each change more accessible to your body and more sustainable over time.
For example, if one of your goals is running 10 miles per day, but this seems like too much work right now–think about breaking this up into smaller chunks (for instance, 2 miles every morning before work). Or, instead of signing up for an intense exercise class where other people might be way fitter than you, try something else like yoga classes! We can achieve our fitness goals in many ways without having them overwhelm us!
Pick an activity that you enjoy and make sure you plan enough time to do it regularly.
Choosing an activity you enjoy is the first step in overcoming barriers to starting. Try running outdoors if you love running but hate going to the gym and working out on machines. If swimming is your thing, find a pool in your area where laps can be done without having to wait for equipment or other swimmers and make sure it’s not too crowded so that you won’t feel overwhelmed by other people around you.
If your schedule is too busy for regular exercise (or if any other barrier applies), consider exercising at home instead of joining a class or making time at the gym. For example, if walking isn’t cutting it anymore because it just doesn’t feel like enough of a workout, I’ll start doing hill sprints outside my house instead! This way, even though I can’t access anything fancy like treadmills or elliptical trainers…I can still get my heart rate up while enjoying fresh air 🙂
Get rid of excuses. Workouts are a series of small actions that add up over time. There are no quick fixes!
You can use the following excuses as a cue to get moving:
- I don’t have enough time. Working out takes time, but it’s also one of the best ways to spend that time. Exercising regularly makes you feel more energized and productive throughout the day. And if you think about how much time you spend watching TV or scrolling through social media feeds–which don’t add value to your life–you might realize that an hour-long workout is worth it!
- There aren’t any good gyms near me. Gyms are everywhere these days; finding one nearby with affordable membership fees and classes tailored to your needs (whether strength training or cardio) takes research. And if there aren’t any nearby facilities at all? Get creative! Plenty of exercises don’t require equipment like pushups, pullups and situps–and even better: these exercises can be done anywhere from home floors/yards/grassy fields…the possibilities are endless!
Making small changes can add up to significant results!
If you want to start exercising and feel like you don’t have the time, plenty of small changes can add to significant results.
For example, instead of going out for drinks with friends after work on Fridays, go for a short walk or run around the block. Or, instead of taking an elevator up to your office, take the stairs! It may seem like these things aren’t enough, but they will help build up over time and improve overall health. You should also consider making other lifestyle changes that could make exercise more accessible in the long run – such as planning so that you always have healthy snacks available when hunger strikes during those times when we least expect it (like during lunch break) or investing in workout gear (such as sports bras) so that we’re not constantly worrying about whether or not our clothes will withstand vigorous activity without falling apart first!
Conclusion
Exercise is essential for everyone, but it can be hard to get started. Try some of these tips if you’re anxious about getting into shape or starting a new workout routine. They’ll help you get back on track and feel great again!