How To Get Yourself To Exercise

I’m not going to start with the benefits of exercise. You already know them or you wouldn’t be reading this. It is helpful to think about those benefits, remembering every time you exercise you’re doing yourself a favour. I know it often doesn’t feel like a favour, it just feels difficult and uncomfortable. So how can you get yourself to WANT to exercise? How do you take away the dread and replace it with pleasant anticipation?

The most important thing is to start where you are, by which I mean, start easy. Really easy. Don’t let your impatience to get into shape lead you into going too hard too soon. Doing so feels torturous which makes it impossible to sustain over the long run.

I used to think I hated running. I’d go out every once in a while and try running like I used to when I was a kid — just full out until I had to stop because I couldn’t breathe anymore. I never got very far and it felt hard and awful. Finally, I just gave up and put the idea out of my head and just stuck with the bicycling and indoor cardio machines that I was already doing.

Then one day I was out for pizza and beer with my buddy Geoff. He told me he signed up for a “Learn To Run” class at a nearby running store and he was really enjoying it. I almost fell off my bar stool even though it was only my first beer. While Geoff was active, walking to and from work and hiking on the weekends, he wasn’t someone I considered a balls-to-the-wall athlete, which I figured you had to be in order to become a runner. He wanted someone to run with outside of class and considered me a likely candidate. I was hesitant, but he said not to worry, it’ll be easy. “I’ll teach you what I’m learning in class.” So I said, “Okay, sure. What the heck.” I was thinking it’s a good excuse to hang out with my friend.

It turns out he was right! It was easy! I had approached it all wrong. We started by walking for two minutes and then jogging or running slowly for thirty seconds. This was completely do-able. Over the next twelve weeks, which was the length of his class, we gradually decreased the time we spent walking and increased the time we spent jogging (or trotting, as Geoff called it.) Eventually we stopped walking and spent the whole time jogging. By the time the twelve weeks were up we were able to run five kilometers without stopping. We weren’t setting any land speed records, but we were running. After that I took the next class with him, the 10 km. Three months after that, we signed up for the half marathon class. Together, we ran three 10 km races and one half marathon. We kept running together until Geoff moved out of province because of work.

I still run, but not as far. I broke my leg in 2015 and ended up with six pins and a plate in it. The half marathon distance is too much for that leg now, but five or ten kilometers is no problem. I was able to start and stick with it because I started really easy, increased the level of difficulty slowly, and I exercised with a friend to make it fun.

Anything you can do to make it fun seriously helps. Some people say you should work out with a friend or a personal trainer to keep you accountable. Forget that! Who wants to be “held accountable”? Not me. It brings back too many horrible memories of sadistic gym teachers from grade school and high school.

We want to exercise with a friend or an encouraging trainer because anything is more fun when you have someone you like keeping you company.

If you are invited to learn a new sport or activity say “Yes” even if you’re hesitant. Trust your friend and give it a chance. Like me, you may end up loving it.

Sometimes we’d like company while we exercise, but none of our friends are on board. If this is the case, sign up for a class. The classes at my local running store kept me going after Geoff moved away and got me restarted after my broken leg healed.

Our workouts are more enjoyable if they add balance to our life instead of giving us yet more of what we already have. If you spend your workday in a noisy, hectic environment you might find a yoga class, hiking, or cross country skiing feels peaceful and refreshing as well as providing exercise. If you’re on your own a lot, you might prefer something lively and social, maybe with music. A dance class, group fitness class, or some kind of team sport might be the thing. If you’re gone all day and just want to be at home in your ugly, comfy clothes try a workout video on YouTube, a stationary bike or other cardio equipment plus a TV.

Get other benefits out of your workout besides just exercise.

Link a workout to something you already do. I have body weight exercises that I do everyday before I get in the shower. As soon as I think about taking a shower, I’m cued to do my pre-shower workout.

In addition to starting easy, make it easy to jump into your workout. Once you finish one workout do a little prep for your next exercise session while you’re feeling good and have some momentum. Throw your dirty exercise clothes in the laundry and repack your gym bag with fresh ones. Clean the mud off your mountain bike before it turns into cement so it’s ready to go for your next ride.

Don’t make yourself travel too far. Exercise close to work or close to home. That nice gym on the other end of town? Are you really going to make the extra effort just to get there on days when you’re already iffy and barely motivated? Closer is easier. The best gym is the one that you’ll actually use. A long drive or transit ride can tip us in the wrong direction if we’re on the fence about working out.

If you have a car, only use it when you really must. We all drive too much, especially short distances. Can you do an errand on foot or on your bicycle? If you’re in a large shopping complex like an outlet mall, do you really need to drive to that store across the parking lot? People do this. I’ve seen them. Getting around by walking, running, bicycling, rollerblading or skating, skateboarding, etc. gives you exercise, saves the environment, and saves you money all at the same time. This is an all round win. Get other benefits from your exercise besides just exercise.

If you have trouble getting yourself to exercise these are the tricks:

• Start easy.
• Make it fun.
• Have other people keep you company (if you want.)
• Make it convenient.
• Make it easy to start your next workout.
• Have your exercise serve a purpose beyond just exercising.
• Keep an open mind and try new things. You may discover something you love.