Health is such a passion of mine. There are many activities that promote great health and vigor. Chiropractic, massage, “good” diet, positive self talk… Among the top of the list is certainly exercise. There are so many health benefits to exercise that one could almost make the argument that if you’re not exercising you must not want the most out of life. We know that’s not the case though. Most people that don’t exercise know it’s good and even have good intentions to get it done but fall short of making it a habit.
After reading the following list of tips, if you have any questions or concerns about exercise or integrating it into your life, call me at 952-224-2909 or email me at DrChris@VibrantPotential.com and I’d be happy to talk to you about a plan.
One of the most commonly made, and most frequently broken, New Year’s resolutions is the resolution to exercise more.
People who exercise are healthier, more energetic, think more clearly, sleep better, have delayed onset of dementia…the list goes on and on and on and on and… you get the idea.
There’s also a lot of research into the connection between exercise and happiness - some studies suggest that it provides a real boost, some studies suggest that while correlated, exercise isn’t a factor in making people happier. I’m interested to see what further studies reveal, but I’ve made up my own mind: in my experience, and the experience of everyone I know who exercises, exercise makes me calmer, more cheerful, and more alert.
But even once you’re convinced of the benefits, if you’re not inclined to exercise, it can be hard to adopt the habit. After all, why else do so many people join a gym on Jan. 1st and stop going before three weeks have past? If you want to transform into a regular exerciser try deploying these strategies:
1. Always exercise on Monday. This sets the psychological pattern for the week.
2. If at all possible, exercise first thing in the morning. The longer the day goes on, the more likely you are to get derailed.
3. Never skip exercising for three days in a row. You can skip a day, and you can skip two days, but on the third day, you must exercise no matter how inconvenient. (If you go more than a couple of days people end up feeling like they’ve failed and then say, “to heck with it.”)
4. Give yourself credit for the smallest effort. Give yourself a super easy minimum. Perhaps 10 push-ups. Once you meet that goal, feel good that you’ve done something and if you want to keep going then do it but don’t feel like you must. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The fifteen-minute walk you DO take is better than the three-mile run you DON’T take.
5. If you don’t have time both to exercise and take a shower, find an activity that doesn’t require a shower afterward, like yoga or walking. I enjoy a hard work out but sometimes I only have 20 minutes so a walk to the lake and back is just what the doctor ordered. The sunlight and fresh air do wonders to clear the mind and boost the mood.
6. Look for affordable ways to make exercising more pleasant or satisfying. Could you upgrade to a nicer gym? Buy yourself a new iPod? Work with a trainer? A lot of people are feeling a real money crunch right now, but exercise is a high life priority, so if you can afford it, this is a place to spend some money if that helps. If you want a recommendation, just let me know. I know plenty of GREAT trainers and coaches. One with whom I’ve recently been VERY impressed with is Danielle Pellicano. She does a GREAT job, will spend the time to individualize workouts for you and is SUPER affordable. Her contact info can be found at her website - www.daniellepellicano.com
7. Remind yourself of the benefits from exercising. Whether you’re more motivated by short-term gratifications like “I’ll feel more focused” or “I’ll sleep better” or long-term considerations like “I’ll live longer” or “If I have surgery, I’ll recover quicker” are more your style do a little soul searching and figure out what gets you out the door. There are SO many positive benefits to exercise that you’ll be sure to find something to prod you along. 
8. Think about context. If you find it much harder to go running in winter than summer, maybe the real trouble is that you don’t like the cold. (If you invest in some decent cold-weather running gear its amazing how comfortable you can be at low temps) Do you
hate the loud music in your gym? Is your work-out so exhausting that you can’t face the rest of your day? Set yourself up for success by doing something you LIKE!!!
9. When choosing an activity, a gym, or an exercise class, make convenience a top priority. Most people are much more likely to go to a mediocre gym near the office or home than to a great gym that’s out of the way.
Apart from the happiness gain you’ll get from the exercise, merely the fact that you’ve kept your resolution to yourself will boost your happiness.
Yours in health,
Dr. Chris