If you’ve lived a sedentary lifestyle for a while, getting back in to exercising may be harder than you thought. The old adage of lapping anyone who is lying on the couch is true, but it’s getting off that couch that can be tricky in the first place. Our top tips will help you get back into being active without it being too much of a chore.
Set Realistic Goals
Goals are always good, but making sure they are realistic is important. If you haven’t run a marathon ever and are aiming to run 40kms by the end of the month, the reality is you probably won’t be able to do it, or you’ll hurt yourself in the process. This will put you off exercising all together, and you’ll end up back on the couch. Rather set yourself bite-sized targets that are tough but achievable, and celebrate every milestone in a way that works best for you.
Buddy Up
It’s not always easy to stay motivated, so it is a great idea to partner up with someone who is at the same fitness level as you and wants to start exercising again too. This makes you accountable, not only to yourself but to someone else, and you’ll find it harder to skip out on exercise as you have someone relying on you pitching up.
Find An Exercise You Like
If you hate running jogging isn’t going to work for you, and if you loathe the gym, signing up for a new contract is not a great idea. Rather find a form of exercise that you really love and look forward to doing, as this is a great motivator. If you like to dance, try a dance class or yoga, and if you love being outdoors join a hiking running group.
Play a Team Sport
Nothing makes you get up and go than having team relying on you. There are loads of casual teams for all kinds of sports, and whether you want to kick a football around, play basketball or hockey or even take up rowing, there’s sure to an amateur club that will welcome you. This is basically like buddying up, but on a whole other level!
Track Your Progress
Just like there are more than just the top 5 betting sites for Australians, there are numerous apps that can be used to track your fitness levels and your progress, and there is no better motivator than seeing proven results. Harness the power of technology and use it to your advantage to see just how much the effort you are putting in pays off.
Get Recreational
If the idea of an on-going exercise plan kills you, or you are not interested in a specific sport, turn recreation time into fitness time. Go for a hike, a bike ride or ice skating instead of lazing around. You’ll soon feel how the endorphins give you a bit more pep and will be keen to do more with your downtime.