We talk at length about how movement, when separated from appearance and numbers, can be SO beneficial for health - mental, physical, and/or emotional. However, mainstream fitness will have you thinking that you have to FORCE it into your schedule. That it’s all about sacrifice.
So, we want to address the do’s and don’ts of fitting exercise into your life. There are ways to get more movement in without adding more stress to your schedule or sacrificing experiences you enjoy. The trick is to not become militant about when and how you move.
What should everyone keep in mind when trying to fit exercise into their lives?
Don’t
Come up with a schedule that’s unrealistic to your lifestyle. Look at your life, as it is, and figure out when movement makes sense within that. Exercise should enhance your life, not take away from it!
Fall for morality associations in movement. Get rid of the idea that missing a scheduled workout is ‘bad’ and sticking to your schedule 100% is ‘good.’ Life is unpredictable!
Sacrifice things that are important to you. Is it important to you to go out to work happy hours when they pop up? Impromptu date nights? Don’t let sticking to your schedule get in the way of living your life.
Sacrifice sleep for a workout. It is VERY normalized to give up sleep in order to make it to the gym, but that hurts your health in the long run. Let’s not do it.
Let anyone else tell you that you ‘should’ be doing more. Take the ‘should-ing’ out of exercise and you’ll be able to better understand when movement could help you and when it may not be such a good idea.
Do
Be flexible in your scheduling! Listen to your body and vanquish the guilt that we’re told to feel for ‘skipping a workout.
Find movement you actually enjoy. Maybe a favorite instructor? Maybe something outdoors? Maybe dancing or walking or gardening? Part of using movement to enhance your life is making sure it isn’t something you continuously dread.
Keep track of how you feel. Before, during, and after workouts, it is helpful to simply notice how you’re feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally. If you find you’re not feeling great after moving, you may want to think about switching things up.
Allow yourself to end a scheduled workout early! Maybe it isn’t making you feel great. Maybe you have somewhere to be. Maybe something came up. Your movement still ‘counts.’
Trust yourself. Trust what your body communicates with you. Trust your feelings. Trust that you know what’s best.
You got this!