How To Exercise If You Don't Like Exercise!

Do you hate the idea of getting up for an early morning jog, or hitting the gym on your way home from work?

These are great ways to keep fit, but not necessarily right for everybody. If you want to get fit and healthy, you need to find a way of doing it that suits you and your personality.

Today, we’re going to look at some alternative ways to keep fit for those of you who are craving something a little different!

HOW YOUR BODY IS DESIGNED TO FEEL

Love it or hate it, regular exercise is a vital component to feeling happy and healthy in our bodies.

The benefits of regular exercise are well documented, and if you’re someone who likes to keep fit, you already know how amazing your good habits make you feel.

If, however, it’s been a while since your last workout, or you’re just getting started, it can be difficult to envisage the benefits you’re yet to reap and how awesome this new habit will make you feel.

To quote natural health author Kevin Trudeau - “Most people have no idea how good their body is designed to feel.”

IT’S DESIGNED TO FEEL AMAZING!

It doesn’t take much to start reaping the rewards of regular exercise. Just 30 minutes a day can bring a whole host of benefits, such as:

Reduced risk of heart attack and heart disease
Improved weight management and reduced risk of obesity
Lowered LDL (bad) cholesterol
Lowered risk of type 2 diabetes and some cancers
Lowered blood pressure
Reduced chance of developing osteoporosis
Improved balance
Improved recovery times
Increased energy and better sleep
Improved mood and self-esteem
Decreased stress

That’s an incredible list of benefits, but let’s be honest, you probably knew a lot of them already. If you’re low on motivation, a list of benefits isn’t going to help, but a change in perspective might!

THE SECRET TO ENJOYING EXERCISE

I’m going to suggest something a little controversial now…

Forget about the health benefits of exercise!

Eject the idea that exercise is something you “have to do”.

Instead, make it your goal to have fun!

FIND YOUR WAY

Not everyone likes being in a gym, some people really dislike jogging, and yoga doesn’t float everybody’s boat.

Fortunately, there is a near-endless number of ways to get active. Whoever you are and wherever you’re from, I assure you there is a way for you to get active that you find fun, fulfilling, and rewarding.

It might take some experimentation, but when you find your “thing”, I promise you it will be worth all the trial and error!

Need some ideas?

TRY THESE FUN ALTERNATIVES

Join a team or club.

This can seem scary at first, especially if it’s your first time joining a sports team, but the social element can make this a perfect way to have fun, make new friends and get your body moving!

There are clubs for all kinds of sports, from rugby, football, tennis, baseball, and basketball to less intense sports such as bowls, table tennis or bowling!

If you can’t find a local club you like the look of, you could always start your own. If you are interested in it, it’s a safe bet other people will be too!

Work towards something bigger than yourself.

This involves anything where you are working towards a goal bigger than yourself and can be an amazing way to keep yourself accountable and on track.

Think of Eddie Izzard running 32 marathons in 31 days while raising over a quarter of a million pounds for charity (not that we recommend this!) or the late great Captain Tom Moore who raised £33 million by walking laps of his garden.

Doing something for a good cause is a great motivator, whether your challenge is big or small.

Think outside the box

Get adventurous and try something new! Ever taken dance lessons or a martial arts class?

If you’ve got a head for heights, you might have a hidden rock climber inside you waiting to climb out. Hiking, sailing, and kayaking are exciting activities that let you embrace your inner adventurer!

Use what you have

We don’t all have the time or ability to invest in to kayaks, clubs, or charity marathons, but one thing we all have is imagination!

You can get creative and turn chores and daily grind tasks into fun forms of exercise. Start ditching the lifts and escalators in favour of the stairs. Walk or cycle to work if you can or put on your favourite playlist and turn those boring household chores into a fun workout!

STICK WITH IT

Once you’ve found your new hobby, make sure you stick with it! It can take a month or two to establish a new habit, but you can make things easier by keeping your activity to the same time and days each week. This will give you the best chance of making your new habit stick.

BE PATIENT

It’s important to be patient with yourself, especially if you’re starting something new. It can take time to build up the fitness and skill required for a new sport or activity, so don’t be disappointed if you’re not hitting home runs in your first few months of baseball practice!

Remember why you started. We’re not trying to become Olympic gold medallists; we are here to have fun and improve our health!

STAY ACCOUNTABLE

Get a friend involved to stay accountable to each other. You might even be lucky enough to have a friend who is already involved in a sports team or activity, which means you’ll have a friendly face to show you the ropes. If not, learning something new with a friend is a great way to support your growth and develop your skills.

MIX IT UP

Just because you started down one path, it doesn’t mean you can’t switch to a different one! The chances are you will have to try a few different activities before you find the one that suits you best. If you’re really not enjoying what you are doing, don’t be afraid to try something else instead.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

It’s important to take time out on your journey to see how far you have come. If you can do something today that you couldn’t do a few weeks ago, then celebrate that fact! Even if it’s something as simple as getting to the top of your stairs without being out of breath.

Having a diary or tracker on your phone is a great way to keep track of your feelings and accomplishments along the way.

ENJOY YOUR OWN JOURNEY

Hopefully, this has given you some inspiration to go out there and try something new. It’s important to set your own standards for yourself and to not compare yourself to others. We are all running our own race, and you decide your own pace!

Above all, remember this…

Enjoy yourself and have fun!