3 Tips to Actually Start Enjoying Exercise Again

Hate going to the gym? Not into going for a run?

We’ve been there. Despite knowing all the benefits of exercise for our minds and our bodies, we still can’t bring ourselves to do it. And then we think “I’m just lazy and not motivated.” We promise, that’s not true.

This month’s educational theme is ‘Movement is Medicine.’ So we’re compiling all of our favorite tips and perspectives on exercise and movement as therapy.

This week we’re focusing on how to make exercise less like a chore and more like an activity you want to do more. Check out our top 3 tips below.

#1. It’s easier to do something FUN than something painful…choose the right movement TYPE and SETTING for you.

If you used to be a gym rat or a runner, you know how challenging some of the sessions can be. And who wants to jump back into something they used to be much better at? Very few people.

When it comes to longevity though, choosing something you love to do can go a long way. We encourage you to temporarily expand your definition of exercise to anything involving more movement than you’re used to. This could be dance lessons, walking in the park, going for an easy bike ride with a friend, playing soccer or tag with the kids in the yard, or agility training with your dog, really anything YOU LIKE that gets your heartrate up will suffice.

Choose an exercise setting that you enjoy being in. If you hate being outdoors in the summer time, choose an activity that you can do indoors or vice versa. If you like being surrounded by people, sign up for a team activity or group exercise class, but if you like being surrounded by plants, maybe hiking or biking is a better fit for you.

#2. Add in your friends: make it a social experience

Do you have a friend who bikes? Does yoga? Hikes? People LOVE introducing others to things that they love doing. And having a friend there gives you something to look forward to, even better if it’s an entirely new community that you get to meet.

Alternatively, if none of your friends have active hobbies, consider expanding your social group by finding an activity you’re interested in and taking a beginner class where you’re more likely to meet other newbies. Having or making active friends also adds some social accountability and support for your new lifestyle change.

Go ahead, ask your friend if you can join them for a workout!

#3. Save the suffering for later…establish a habit first.

Many adults who are getting back into exercise give up in the first week or two of getting active because it feels so exhausting. This happens often with former runners, weightlifters, swimmers, and cyclists who try to start at the same speed or frequency they used to be able to handle (but I used to go for an hour 4-5 times per week easily!)

Unfortunately, neither your heart nor your muscles or tendons can keep up with that kind of abrupt change. For endurance activities, your heart needs time to re-learn how to pump more efficiently, and for strength or sport activities, your tendons need more time to adapt to the forces that are being placed on them. In either case, you’re hurting and huffing. A better approach is to build a habit of exercising at low intensity first then ramping up the intensity after about a month. This creates a stronger foundation and saves the psychological and physical suffering for later, when you’re less likely to quit.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions or feedback. We’re here to help!

Start the Sleep Challenge!

Name*
First Last
Email*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Schedule a Well-Being Strategy Call

Submit your information below and our team will respond ASAP!

Workplace Wellbeing Inquiry Form

Government Contracting Inquiry Form

Application