I was never the athletic girl or runner growing up. I didn’t like exercising. It was a chore and a bore. But one thing I paid some attention to was wellness. Not necessarily what I ate or how I moved, but the serenity and calm I felt when I saw something clean. A bit weird I know. I honestly didn’t start falling in love in with exercising until after I had my daughter. I became and felt more empowered and was able to channel that energy into postpartum exercise. I find comfort and strength in exercising. I have maintained this momentum for 3 years and it has been going well.
Below are a few things that have helped keep exercise consistently a part of my life.
- Start simple: you don’t have to overcomplicate exercises to make you feel like you exercised. Start small. Do one or two exercises to begin and start to work your way up as your body builds more strength and endurance.
- Find exercises you enjoy: when you are not enjoying your workout, it may discourage you from exercising. You lose motivation and may give up after your first try. I have a list of exercises in my YouTube Channel library that you can try.
- Plan your workouts: I usually have an idea of the exercise I will be doing the following day to help prep my mind and body for what to expect. This goes a long way in also holding yourself accountable. Also, bringing out your workout gear a day before your workout helps with staying organized and ready to go.
- Exercise around the same time every day: I currently workout every morning between 9:05am and 9:15am for about 15 to 20 minutes. This time reminds me that I must exercise. It’s like setting a recurring meeting in your google calendar that you can’t miss or a work meeting that holds at the same time every day.
- Think of exercise as a simple routine: the same way I brush my teeth and take a shower daily is the same way I think of exercise. It is part of my daily regimen and part of who I am.
- Have your favorite playlist going: if you like to listen to music, you can collate a list of your favorite songs to get you in the mood to exercise. The endorphins released from exercising as well as the vibes from your soundtrack will get you going.
Whatever it is, write out your goals, make sure they are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time – bound. It might not be as easy as it looks or seems but with time, everything will come together if you are consistent and dedicated. Show yourself some love and grace and trust the process.
The bottom line is that you must be ready to do this for YOU only then will you naturally crave to exercise and stay well.