Truthfully, the first key to making exercise a habit is to make it enjoyable (at least most of the time). Experiment with different gym memberships (most have trials!), sports, classes, and other activities. You can even pick up a hobby like roller skating or swimming. Find what’s fun!
One of my favorite things to do is to go on an outdoor walk where I intermittently sprint and stop for some body weight exercises. It makes me feel totally free, because I have complete control over what I want to do without having to plan it all out.
If you don’t feel like you want to stick to just one thing, find a membership that gives you some freedom in changing it up – a weightlifting gym that offers yoga classes or a membership that gives you access to multiple fitness studios. Don’t want to pay for a membership? One of my favorite things to do is to go on an outdoor walk where I intermittently sprint and stop for some body weight exercises. There’s no reason to let exercise get boring – there are so many things you can do to get your heart rate up and break a sweat!
Celebrate the small and big wins alike! Don’t wait until you reach your ultimate goal to reward yourself. Waiting to try that new restaurant? Been eyeing those perfect leggings? Set a realistic goal and reward yourself for reaching it!
Don’t try to change everything all at once. It’s difficult to go from never working out to intense weightlifting sessions 5 days a week. That burst of motivation when you start your new exercise habit often fades with time, so you want to create a sustainable practice of moving your body that doesn’t rely on motivation. Always choose consistency over intensity. Some exercise is better than no exercise.