We all wish we had a positive relationship with working out, but due to our hectic schedules and procrastination tendencies, exercising is probably the last thing on your mind. But while some people are dedicated to exercising, not all of us possess this level of restraint.
As we have all learned, developing healthy habits is not always simple, but this does not preclude us from being able to maintain them. There are various steps or stages you can take if you want to incorporate exercise into your daily routine.
Find out what motivates you
When you find yourself looking at the mirror and seeing the effects of not working out is doing to you, you’re probably thinking that it is high time that you should do so. If you are having trouble getting yourself motivated, it may be a good idea to write down your reasons for wanting to exercise. Seeing these reasons in front of you can give you that extra push that you need.
Make it a habit to start working out
Trying to convince yourself that you need to workout can be tiresome. Instead of having to debate with yourself on whether you should exercise or not, why not do it instead? A good way to get into the habit of starting your exercise is to prepare your workout clothes the night before and wear it in the morning. Once you are in your workout clothes, you can start doing some simple activities, such as walking, jogging, or doing aerobics. Even if you will workout for just 10 minutes, consider it as an achievement already.
Be aware of the risk stage
This usually happens around the 2nd or 3rd week of your daily routine where you will feel that any results that you have been experiencing for the first two weeks are no longer working. This is the time where you will doubt yourself and will start making excuses too. When you hit this stage, you will need to start reinforcing the importance of sticking with your routine. Ask your family or friends to help you keep track of your workout so you will be able to continue beyond the risk stage.
Consider the 2-minute rule
Staying still all the time means that you will be sticking in this same routine all the time. On the other hand, if you start moving, even for 2 minutes, you will find yourself propelled to continue with your workout until you finish your routine for the day. Think of this as you getting the ball moving when it comes to your habit.
Second risk stage
If you are starting to enjoy your workout routine, you will no longer find yourself debating on whether you will work or not, because you will be determined to work out. The risk here is when there are external causes for you that will prevent you from exercising. This may be due to an accident, a trip outside the country, and whatnot. Preparing yourself from these possible occurrences can ensure that you will not be missing your training at all.
Training yourself to actually working out is not that easy at the start, but with perseverance and dedication, you’ll be able to see some improvement on your daily habit as you start to incorporate it to your everyday schedule. Once you learn how to quiet down your need to make excuses, you will see a huge improvement for sure.