Have you ever wanted to begin exercising and be more active? Do you often wonder how to motivate yourself to exercise? You have come to the right place! In this article, we share tips on how to exercise for 30 minutes a day and become more active.
share tips on how to exercise for 30 minutes a day and become more active.
The pace of life can often be so fast that by the time we get home at the end of the day, all we want is to doss down on the sofa and turn on Netflix. We often plan activities that help us relax, but do we also plan activities that give us energy and improve our health?
Exercise is important for both our physical and mental wellbeing. Exercising even 30 minutes a day is good for our body and mind. The best way to start is by putting together an exercise plan.
Tips for planning a routine
Here are some tips to make planning exercise easier:
Get a planning app or a paper planner and write down your weekly activities. You can also use a calendar and hang it on the wall so you can check it every day and cross out the things you have done. This helps you plan your activities better and also to maintain motivation. Read also how to plan your time better.
Set goals, but start with something manageable in order to stay motivated. If you achieve the goal, do not forget to celebrate it and set a new one. For example, you can start by running every day after work and increase the distance by a little every week. Try not to do too much at once. Otherwise, you may burn yourself out or be disappointed.
Also plan your meals, as a balanced diet is an important part of your day.
Before you start exercising, make sure you have eaten and drunk enough. This means that you have to think about what and when you eat before exercising. Making both a meal and an exercise plan could help you do it right.
Try to exercise at different times to find the rhythm and time that suits you.
Try to figure out whether you are a morning, afternoon or evening person. Some people prefer to exercise first thing in the morning, while others prefer to do it in the evening. Do whatever works for you, so it does not feel like an extra chore, but an enjoyable activity.
Take small steps. Think about the simple things you do every day as you exercise in order to make your day more active. For example, you can take the stairs instead of the lift or get off the bus two stops earlier. Try to include these little things in your day and be more active.
Be prepared for every day. Try to organise everything the night before so you can start your exercise the next day without delays. This way you cannot delay your exercise or postpone it.
Find ways to motivate yourself to exercise. This could be inviting a friend for a run, making a great playlist to listen to while exercising or planning a reward for completing the workout, such as one of your favourite activities.
When you start a new workout regimen, you can get bored quickly, so it is important to experiment and try different types of exercise. This also helps train different parts of the body in different ways. Here are some tips:
If you walk, run or cycle, plan different routes from time to time so you do not get too bored.
Make the most of your surroundings. Many parks have an outdoor training area for everyone to use. Change your walking or running routine by working out in the outdoor training area from time to time. The instructions are usually on the equipment. Make sure to read them before you start.
Try various forms of exercise. For example, you can go on YouTube and watch yoga or Pilates videos. This is a good way to mix up your workouts throughout the week. In addition, you are guided through it.
The article is based on the Irish youth information portal Spunout.
