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Exercise is more about just losing weight and maintaining a slim physique. Regular exercise can help you to sleep better at night, improve your mental clarity, boost your mood, strengthen your immune system and protect your bones, muscles and joints from injury.
Unfortunately, physical activity isn’t always first on your list of activities when you have a bit of free time to spare. To ensure you stay active, and have fun while you’re at it, take a look at these tips to help you have more fun as you exercise this year.
1. Start Where You Are
One of the biggest barriers to a consistent exercise habit is the perception that it requires a lot of time, energy or resources to get moving–which can instantly take the fun out of anything. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to get your heart rate up and get going. Start small by listening to a playlist while you walk around your neighborhood, or research “pool builders near me” to bring the benefits of a gym to your own backyard.
2. Take More Walks
You to be a hardcore runner or kickboxer to put on your trusty pair of tennis shoes more often. Dust off your trainers, grab your headphones and plan a quick walk outside to get some fresh air at least once a day. To make it more enjoyable, queue up a favorite audiobook, listen to a podcast or play some upbeat tunes while you walk.
3. Bring a Friend
Working out together not only helps you to be more accountable when it comes to your exercise habits, but it also makes the experience more enjoyable for both of you. If you don’t have a workout buddy lined up, ask clients or work colleagues to take a quick meeting on foot or make a call to a loved one as you take a walk on your lunch break.
4. Try Something New
Not everyone is interested in Crossfit or long-distance marathon training–and that’s okay. Rather than avoid exercise because it’s largely been unenjoyable to you, make it work for you and your lifestyle. If you’ve grown bored of cycling, try rowing. If you don’t want to exercise in a gym setting, try social dancing. The more enjoyable you find your chosen exercise regimen, the more likely you are to look forward to it.
5. Participate in an Old Hobby
Were you a baseball star in high school? Did you grow up performing pirouettes? Kick up the nostalgia factor and revisit a once-beloved activity that helped you to stay fit in your youth.
6. Get a Pet
Research has shown that dog owners tend to be more active than the rest of the population. Pets give their owners a great reason to remain active, and their needs can get you on your feet and out the door more often than if they weren’t around, even if those pets are cats or other small animals.
7. Go Dancing
When it’s time to blow off steam on the weekend, skip the bar and head straight for your dance classes. Dancing is a great way to burn calories and get your heart rate up, and the mood-boosting endorphins you generate while showing off your best moves can make a lively experience even more fun and enjoyable.
8. Use Videos
Gym memberships can be pricey, and it can often be difficult to grab all of your gear and get in your car to drive there when you only have so much time in your schedule to fit in a workout. Exercise videos are an excellent way to explore many different kinds of movement activities, including yoga, dance, circuit training, barre, pilates and even gamified exercise regimens, which can double as sources of entertainment as well.
9. Get Chores Done
Household chores aren’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of fun or exercise, but they’re an underrated way to get your body moving on a daily basis. Think creatively about the way you approach your cleaning tasks around the house and try to fit a few extra squats or reps in while you’re at it.