Exercising for your lifestyle

We’ve been drilled with the fact since we were kids: Exercise is important; everyone needs to exercise. We get it, but why do many of us create excuses for it? Well, for a variety of reasons, but for each reason, there is an even bigger reason to exercise.

If you are a morning person…

“An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” -- Thoreau

Take a short walk at the start of the day. Yes, even if you have to get up an hour earlier. Start by walking at a comfortable pace, then build up to a brisk walk. It’s a start, and when it becomes a habit, you develop a mindset to start your day successfully. Early morning walking is good for the heart, as it can help reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which decreases your risk of heart disease.

If you are a beginner exercise-er…

Decide to carve out an exercise time at least three times a week. Treat it in the same way as you would a hobby, or whatever creative pastime you enjoy. If you are the type of person who needs to be accountable to keeping to your exercise goal, invest in a fitness class like Zumba, or aerobics as a start. Classes are great for beginners, as it exposes you to a culture of regular exercise and general wellness. (It’s a great way to meet new friends and potential exercise buddies, too!)

If you’ve “got no time”...

You’re not going to get any younger, and work is likely not going to get any easier! So don’t make work or busy-ness an excuse for not getting any exercise. Ask yourself how much time you’re on Instagram or watching Netflix. You know you could easily use that time towards exercise, right? We prioritize our values, so decide that you need to get fit and do something for yourself each day that will make you healthier. Got only 15 minutes? Then commit to 15 minutes. That 15 minutes will spell the difference between your health today and 15 months of 15 years from now! (Try one of these 15 minute workouts and see which ones are going to do it for you.)

If you’ve got time at night…

Evening workouts are a great way to let off steam after a long day at work. Some studies have shown that exercising at night is when metabolism adapts with regular exercise, especially in training done after work. If you are working to keep your weight off intentionally (as opposed to just exercising for general well-being), then working out at night may be more beneficial for you.

If exercise isn’t your “thing”...

Exercise isn’t limited to the gym or the box. Try ballroom dancing. Maybe rollerblading or ice skating. Join a team sport like flag football or frisbee. There's an exercise for everyone! Even if watching TV is your favorite thing: Hey! You can watch TV or read your Kindle while you're on a treadmill. Just make sure you are getting at least 20 minutes of a good heart rate and that your workout challenges you.