With the demands of work, family and other obligations, it’s easy for fitness to get pushed down your list of priorities and, the longer you slack off, the harder it becomes to motivate yourself to work out. Even the most disciplined among us experience periods in our lives where we just cannot find the willpower to exercise. The most common reason we give ourselves for not committing to a fitness regime is that we’re just “too busy”. However, being fit can have a positive impact on many aspects of our lives. Not only will it help you achieve or maintain your ideal weight, regular exercise can also make you feel more energetic and alert, as well as be a wonderful mood booster. Here are some easy-to-follow tips on how you can get your fitness mojo back.
We’ve all heard stories about women who do well in their careers, are mothers, and still manage to fit in three or four workouts a week into their schedule. No, these women are not imbued with special superpowers … they are just very good at time management. Rather than seeing exercise as something they do “if they have the time”, they actually make working out an important aspect of their day-to-day lives. Perhaps they wake up an hour earlier than everyone else to get it done, or pop by the gym for a quick session before they make their wayshome … whatever it is, they make sure they allot some time in their day to get it done.
“Too far”, “Too expensive” … these are just two commonly-cited excuses for not hitting the gym. The trick is to evaluate exactly what’s holding you back from committing to a regular routine, then making the effort to eliminate those excuses, one by one. If you hate the idea of commuting to exercise, then look for a gym that’s within walking distance of your office or home. If you balk at forking out thousands for a gym membership every year, you might want to check out a Zumba or yoga class at your nearest community centre for fitness activities that won’t cost an arm and a leg.
One reason why many of us don’t work out more regularly is because we see exercise as a chore; something we need to just “get it over and done with”. But who says exercise has to be unpleasant? It’s all about finding the right activity that suits your taste and personality. Some of us like the stress-busting aspect of a kickboxing class; others might prefer the slower pace of a yoga class; while others might be revved up by the energy of a hiphop dance class. Before committing to any fitness activity, it might do you well to try a variety of classes to see which one is just right for you. Regardless of what you choose in the end, remember - "The only bad workout is the one that didn't happen".
