The start of a new year always brings in a bounty of resolutions. One of the most common ones is to “exercise more”. In order to do this, it’s important to come up with, and stick to, a solid exercise routine. The following are just a few ways to get you started.
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1. Get a Friend Involved
Get a friend on board and make this a shared experience! Plan to meet up for morning work-outs, during your lunch break, or after work. Not only will you have that extra support, you’ll also have some extra competition. There’s nothing like a friendly rivalry to get you motivated.
2. Take up a Team Sport
Social activities such as team sports are great for setting up a routine. Not only are there set game times, but there are also usually weekly training sessions involved. The team aspect of it is an extra incentive to show up. You don’t want to disappoint your team mates!
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3. Invest in a Personal Trainer
Seeing a personal trainer is a good way to start an exercise routine. A personal trainer can help you set specific goals, as well as providing you with exercises and tips to achieve these goals. You may want to take up weekly sessions with a trainer, or just invest in a few sessions to get you started. Either way, it’s a great way to get everything in motion!
4. Write up a Plan
It’s important to have a physical reminder of your exercise routine. Write up your goals, set a weekly timetable, and place it somewhere you’ll easily see it. If there is something constantly reminding you (and everyone else) about what you should be doing, you’re more likely to stick with the routine.
5. Include a Variety of Activities
Running on the treadmill for hours on end isn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea. For those who do it with ease – I salute you! By switching up your routine, however, you’ll ensure that you won’t get bored of the same old routine. Also, your muscles adapt to exercise quickly (it’s called muscle memory) so if you do the same action over and over again, the workout is going to become less effective. Variety is the spice of life, after all!
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6. Tell Everyone!
The more people you tell about your new exercise plans, the better! The theory is that the more people who know about it, the less likely you are to slack off. It’s hard to sneak in a sleep-in if your room mates are there to wake you up for an early morning jog. And just imagine the feeling of satisfaction in proving all the naysayers wrong!
7. Do Something You Enjoy
It’s easier to stick to something if you genuinely enjoy it. While the motto of “no pain no gain” easily sticks in the psyche of most people, taking part in activities that are fun and enjoyable means that your exercise doesn’t really feel like exercise at all. And that, in my opinion, is the best kind of exercise!
What do you think of these tips? Do have any more that you’d like to share?
Top Photo Credit: phillip.bartlette