Do you want to start exercising but can’t seem to fit it into your routine?
Don’t worry!
We’ll help you through 6 essential steps to create a physical activity routine, get out of a sedentary lifestyle and achieve greater health and quality of life.
-
Choose something you like. It sounds obvious, but it’s important to look for an activity that you enjoy doing.
There’s no point in doing something “forced”, because then the routine becomes unbearable.
Go for a walk, take dance classes, ride a bike, do yoga… You choose. -
Start with sensible goals. Go slowly, without rushing.
Don’t give everything on the first day to the activity you’ve set out to do.
You have to go slowly, with achievable goals that are closer to your reality.
In fact, sticking to this “heavy” routine in the long term can have the opposite effect to that expected and demotivate you more quickly. -
Test the time that works best. A common phrase is: “I can’t get up early enough to exercise”.
But who says it has to be in the morning?
Of course, going for a walk, for example, might be better during the day and not in the evening (see the pros and cons of each time slot).
The point is that you can fit the activity into the schedule that makes the most sense for you. -
Find friends who encourage you. Having an environment that encourages physical activity is essential to making it a habit.
Arrange with a friend or family member to exercise together. -
Tired? Change activities. There are thousands of sports and different activities, so try several until you find one you like.
Gyms usually offer different types of classes.
Try them out to diversify the type of activity you do. -
Look for an exercise professional who can guide you. No room to integrate exercise into your life?
Look for a personal trainer, who will help you create goals and set objectives.
By making this commitment with them, you’ll be able to be more rigorous with your trips to the gym, the times you exercise during the week, etc.
In addition, the personal trainer will guide you and help you gradually implement the routine into your life.
Benefits of physical activity
Training and physical exercise, as well as being an excellent way of boosting self-esteem and self-confidence, offer a number of advantages for people’s well-being and quality of life.
Better mental and emotional health: physical exercise releases endorphins, which are responsible for feelings of well-being, reducing stress, anxiety and depression;
Greater self-esteem and confidence: can significantly contribute to greater self-esteem and self-confidence.
Overcoming challenges during physical activity, improving physical appearance and the feeling of personal achievement can strengthen self-confidence;
Reduced risk of chronic diseases: regular exercise is associated with a lower risk of developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s;
Improved flexibility and mobility: stretching and flexibility exercises, such as yoga, help to improve the flexibility and range of movement of the joints.
This can reduce the risk of injury, improve posture and make it easier to carry out daily activities.
Watch the video here with Renato, personal trainer at our partner gym, Sports Place.
