The key to a sustainable fitness journey lies in discovering what works best for you. Exercising your way means tailoring your fitness routine to fit your unique needs and preferences. By identifying your goals, assessing your interests, considering your schedule, mixing up your workouts, and staying inspired, you’ll create an enjoyable active lifestyle you will want to live with.

You would be surprised how many opportunities there can be to get more activity in your days. If you have been struggling to make exercise a consistent habit in your life, it’s time to start looking for those chances to move more. Every step literally counts when it comes to your health.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week plus two times per week muscle-strengthening activities. If you opt for vigorous intensity aerobic activity the recommendation is 20 minutes three days per week. This is a very healthy goal but not a realistic one for everyone to start with. The key is to put one foot in front of the other and start with whatever you can do today. Building on that gradually will ensure a safe progression.

With so much information and the overwhelming choices of workouts and exercise routines it can be confusing when trying to find what is right for you. Our advice? Don’t overthink it. The goal really should be that simple; to consistently get moderate to vigorous movement that feels right to your body and fits into your lifestyle. The best plan and type of exercise for you is the one you are most likely to stick to at this point in your life. Keep in mind that every active minute adds up to better well-being.

Staying inactive can lead to the same health risks as smoking and being overweight. In contrast, you stand to gain so much by moving more on a consistent basis. Here are just some of the great benefits you stand to gain when you become a more active person:

1. Improve your energy, mood, and sleep. Seeing an improvement in any of these three would certainly have a positive impact on your mental well-being. Imagine gradually seeing an improvement in all these areas. What would you do with all that extra energy and positive mindset?
2.  Create your own fountain of youth. Exercise has been proven to slow the effects of aging. Who wouldn’t want to tap into this benefit?
3. Lower your risk of illness and disease. Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, many cancers and more.
4. Exercise in almost any form can act as a stress reliever. Activity leads to a boost in happy messengers in the brain (endorphins) and can ease daily worrying.
5. Stay mentally sharp as you age. Exercise can improve memory and lower risk of dementia related illnesses.

Take these steps to Exercising Your Way and Find the Right Movement for YOU:

** It is recommended to always check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.

1. Establish your exercise goals. Start with realistic exercise goals that will fit your busy schedule. If you don’t currently feel like you have time to exercise, determine where in your day you can simply move more. 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there…it really can add up. The shorter bouts of exercise are attainable to most and will allow you to gradually build. With increased energy and mood, you may find over time that you are more productive and better able to manage your time, allowing for longer exercise sessions in time.
2. Do something no matter how small. This is the key to establishing the discipline and consistency you should be going for with exercise goals. If you are currently dealing with injury, pain, or limitations to movement, keep trying to find something you can physically still do. A great place to start is breathwork. Focus some short sessions on breathing exercises, mindfulness, or meditation. These have many similar benefits as exercise does and will help keep you on a self-care schedule. It will also be helpful in healing and overcoming physical setbacks.
3. Find YOUR move. There are endless options to moving the body and getting exercise. You must find the activity that physically suits you and that you enjoy. You don’t have to commit exclusively to one type of exercise but having one or a few types of activity you genuinely enjoy is important. On days you can’t find the motivation to workout, you can always stay on track by doing the activities you enjoy. Dancing, gardening, playing a sport, exercising with a partner, pickleball, hiking, or paddleboarding are just a few examples.
4. Write it down. Record your exercise plan in your calendar every week. Schedule it like you would any other important life or work event. Try to stick to it but don’t beat yourself up for not reaching it 100%. Track your exercise if you want to keep your motivation going. This will help you see progress and recognize when you may need to change your routine. Also, keep a running list of activities you find that make you happy. No matter what it is you already know or discover in the future, you can always go back to your list on days or weeks you are struggling to get it in.
5. Be flexible with yourself. Your list of the things you enjoy should always be changing. With aging, fitness level, ability and interest will change. If you can no longer do the activity, you once were able to do, then it only means you now have the opportunity to discover new and exciting things in this next chapter of life.
6. Stay inspired and motivated. This is the toughest challenge for most individuals. Keep exploring things in your environment and online that will inspire you to keep going. Surround yourself with people who live active lifestyles or enjoy exercising. Find a workout buddy or follow inspiring accounts or people online.
7. Accept that you will not always want to workout. Even the most dedicated exercisers that seem to love to workout have days that they just don’t want to go to the gym or get their walk in. This is natural and completely fine. Usually once the body gets going and in motion, there is a shift in energy and mindset. Just keep showing up for yourself and start moving, even if you don’t feel motivated that day. You will likely feel better once you do.