Tips to Help You Stick to Your Exercise Plan
By Sara Butler
There’s always a new workout that promises results. You may be tempted to try one but there’s something you need to know first: No matter what exercise you choose to do, the one that will have the biggest impact on your health is one you stick with. The easiest way to stick with an exercise routine is to focus on finding an activity that you enjoy. Here are a few tips to help you finish what you start that will hopefully lead you to increased health and wellness.
Keep Your Workouts Short
It may not sound like a great strategy at first, but if you can focus on short bouts of exercise, then you may find it’s easier to stick with. Consider breaking your workout up into four blocks of 10 minutes rather than one 40-minute block. It may help you to work in even more exercise throughout the day!
Remember, the cumulative effect of exercise has the same benefits whether the sessions are short or long. They’re both good for you, so find what works for you so you can get it done!
Think You Can!
Exercise psychology has consistently identified self-efficacy as the largest predictor of sticking to an exercise program. That means you have to believe in yourself in order to meet your goals – you have to know you can do it! Self-efficacy isn’t something you either have or you don’t, it’s a learned behavior. Work on developing yours by plotting out small goals on the way to larger ones. With each small victory you are building your confidence and that will bolster your resolve to get it done!
Make Your Exercise Social
Social support is incredibly important to exercise. It makes sense when you think about it. If a friend is waiting for you to show up for an exercise class you signed up for together or to go on a walk at the park, you’re more likely to show up! So, find a workout buddy to help keep you motivated and accountable. If you don’t have any friends interested, then sign up for an exercise class or hire a personal trainer. Those have a higher chance of keeping you accountable than working out by yourself at home – it’s easy to skip right over your workout that way.
Remember, it doesn't matter where you start or even what you're doing. What does matter is you're committed and doing it consistently!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lynnwood, Wash.