No Excuses! How to Talk Yourself Into Exercise
By Genevieve Cunningham
When it comes to exercise, we’re all so full of excuses. We’d rather come up with a million reasons why we can’t work out than just hit the gym and get it over with. Sometimes, we’re justified in our excuse. But for the most part, it’s just a way to get out of the work without guilt. Unfortunately, our love for excuses is truly harming our health and well-being. If you’re ready to break the excuse habit and finally get fit, take a look at these common excuses and how to beat them.
The Excuse: No Time
No one has enough time. In fact, time is so hard to come by, it shouldn’t even be allowed to be an excuse. You might really feel this way, too … like you never have enough time. But the truth is that we make time for the things that are important to us. If you’re constantly using this excuse, just schedule your workouts into your day. Block off a time period, and don’t allow anything to interfere. Treat it like a meeting or appointment. Doing this will help you stop saying you don’t have time to exercise, and will instead make it a priority on your to-do list.
The Excuse: It Hurts
You don’t want to work out because it makes your knees ache or gives you a backache. While it’s normal to be sore after a workout, any serious pain probably signals that you’re doing it wrong. To eliminate this excuse, just lower the impact of your workout. Stop running and instead walk. Stop lifting weights and do some simple calisthenics first. If it’s soreness, stretch really good both before and after, and know that the stiffness will pass. But if it’s real pain, changing your routine should take care of the problem.
The Excuse: Not Prepared
You forgot your workout clothes? Your shoes? Your water bottle? If this happens once in a while, don’t sweat it. But if this is your go-to excuse, you need to get prepared. Keep a gym bag in the trunk of your car. It should include an extra pair of clothes and shoes, a quick snack, and an empty water bottle. This takes away the excuse of being ill-prepared, and makes sure that you’re ready to go at a moment’s notice.
We’re all going to make excuses and skip workouts from time to time. But if your norm is to find an excuse, it’s time to make some changes! It’s time to get serious about your well-being. Use these tips to beat these common excuses, and get in your exercise to boost your health and feel better than ever before.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Henderson, Nev.