By Tori Harris
Spring is an inspiring time of year, motivating many people to make a fresh start in various areas of their lives, such as exercise. Maybe you enjoy being active but fell into the common winter slump, or maybe you’ve never really given much thought to working out. Whatever your situation is, there is no time like the present to start being active! If you’re not sure how to begin, or need some reminders to help you get back in your groove, this article is for you.
For starters, why should we even bother with exercise in the first place? Scientific studies over the years have shown the numerous health benefits of exercise. The first one to come to mind is often weight loss and/or management, but exercise affects us far more than numbers on a scale. Physical activity releases endorphins, the “feel-good” hormones that boost our mood and improve our mental health. Stress, anxiety, and depression are all common struggles, but exercise is a simple thing to do that can help make a difference. Exercise, particularly cardio, also improves heart function, which helps later in life. Types of exercise such as pilates and weight lifting also strengthen bones and muscles. There are many types of exercise, which all come with many different benefits. This leads into my first tip for creating a routine:
Find something you enjoy
If the thought of long runs scares you off, I’m with you. Everyone is created differently, and that includes our interests. So you don’t want to run a 5k, ok, what about weight training? Pilates? Cycling? Jumping rope? HIIT (high-intensity interval training)? Random dance parties in the kitchen while listening to music and cooking supper? There is something for everyone. Be realistic: if you create a routine full of things you hate, you’ll never stick to it. Find whatever it is that you enjoy and gets you to move your body, and roll with it!
Make goals
I have a somewhat unpopular opinion: exercise isn’t about weight loss. Sure, it’s a common and sometimes–healthy result, but many times it’s only an added bonus. Focusing solely on weight loss takes away from the other benefits you could be reaping from your workouts. Numbers on a scale are not the only factors to consider. There is absolutely nothing wrong with trying to lose a healthy amount of weight, but when you broaden your goals and get specific, you will gain so many more benefits. Maybe you want to go on a weight-lifting journey, run a 10k, or simply make it through an entire HIIT workout. Do some research, figure out what your body needs, and plan accordingly.
Be Realistic
No one goes from couch potato to bodybuilder overnight. It can be tempting to create a daily, intense workout routine, but all that will do is hurt your body if it’s not used to being active. Know where you are right now and where you want to be, and plan accordingly. Also think about time. We all stay busy with things like school, church, and just daily life. Before diving right in with multiple long workouts, take a step back and look at your schedule to see when you’ll actually have time to move your body.
I hope these tips show you that creating a routine doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. Determine what your body needs, find a fun way to accomplish it, set aside time to devote to this, and get moving!
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