1. Always exercise on Monday. Starting the week on the right foot makes it easier to stick to your plan.
2. Never skip exercising for two days in a row. You
can skip a day, but the next day, you must exercise no matter how
inconvenient. This rule dramatically increased the number of times I
exercise over the course of a month.
3. Remember, exercise GIVES energy. If you feel too
tired to exercise, remember that exercise boosts energy. It took me a
long time to notice that I’d drag myself to the gym, work out for forty
minutes, and leave feeling far more energetic than when I went in.
4. Any work-out “counts.” Give yourself credit for
the least effort. My father, a runner, always said that all he had to
do was put on his running shoes and close the door behind him. Why does
this work? Because if I know I can quit after five minutes, I get
started—and once I start, I usually follow through with my usual
routine. Getting out the door is by FAR the toughest part.
5. You don’t have to shower. One problem—mostly for
women—is that taking a shower can take too much time. Look for exercise
like strength-training, yoga, or walking, that don’t make you sweaty.
6. Throw money at the problem. Spend more to go to
a more convenient gym, or to get an iPod, or to work with a trainer.
Exercise pays off BIG in your quality of life, so this is a place to
splurge.
7. Don’t set the bar too high. I have a friend who
thinks it’s not worth exercising unless she’s training for a marathon –
and so she never exercises. She’d be better off going for a one-mile
run five times a week.
8. Don’t kid yourself. Belonging to a gym doesn’t
mean that you go to the gym. Having been in good shape in college
doesn’t mean you’re in good shape today. Be honest about what your
habits really are now.
9. You have time. Just take a twenty-minute walk. If you can’t do more, do that! Just a twenty-minute walk will really pay off.
10. Exercise for SANITY not VANITY. I find it more
motivating to think about the fact that exercise is going to make me
feel happier, calmer, and more energetic, right now, rather than to
think about vaguer long-term benefits, like strengthened immunity or
longer life. It’s not clear that exercise has much impact on weight
loss, so don’t be give up when the pounds don’t fall off. It’s worth
doing for so many other reasons.
