There are a lot of reasons why people don’t exercise. An estimated 60% of American adults are not getting enough physical activity while more than a quarter of adults don’t engage in any form of exercise at all.
Here are some possible reasons you’re not exercising and what you can do about it:
1. You keep quitting.
Many people start the year setting fitness goals but end up quitting just a few weeks later. There are many reasons people skip, postpone or quit. Among these are:
- Boredom – It’s common for people to end up getting bored with their workouts. Spending 30 minutes on the treadmill is not exactly fun. If this is the case, try to mix up your exercise. You can walk, jog or run outdoors. You might even want to try a new kind of exercise like swimming or cycling.
- Overtraining – When we’re just getting started, it’s natural to be very eager about exercising. But the problem is that people tend to start overly strong and so they end up with a burnout, fatigue or worse, an injury. Start slow, pace yourself and research on the exercises/machines you should be using.
- Lack of time –Contrary to what most people think, exercising doesn’t always mean spending several hours at the gym. You can exercise at home or in the office, for 20-30 minutes at a time. In fact, you can even break it down further to 10 minutes per session, 3x a day. Remember, some exercise is better than no exercise at all.
2. A gym membership is expensive.
It’s nice to be able to workout in a gym like Equinox Fitness. There are group classes you can join, and there’s an array of exercise machines/equipment you can use. But you don’t have to have a gym membership to be able to exercise. You can workout at home with just a mat and a few weights to start. You can walk, jog or run outdoors. You can do yoga.
3. It’s not effective for you.
Let’s say you have tried working out before but you didn’t see any noticeable changes in your body so you decided exercise is not for you. But the thing is, these changes take time. You can’t get stronger after just a few yoga sessions. You won’t shed off 10 lbs after spending two weeks on the treadmill. The key is to make realistic fitness goals and focus on small wins like better posture, better mood, and probably even better sleep. Over time you will notice that your clothes fit better, your arms and legs are more toned, and you feel good overall. It normally takes anywhere from 12-20 weeks to see any significant change in your body so don’t give up!
4. You’re busy taking care of your kids.
I get you – raising 2 kids was a full time job. But you can still make time to exercise even with child care duties. It requires careful planning but it’s possible. For example, you can schedule your workouts during your kids naptime. Or perhaps you can wake up an hour early so you can do yoga or jog around your neighborhood.
5. You’re too stressed.
Well, if you’re too stressed, then there is even more reason for you to exercise! You’re going to dread going out for a run or going to the gym, but you have to push yourself to do it because exercise can in fact help reduce your stress. Exercise releases feel-good hormones so you end up feeling better after each workout.
Exercising regularly offers a lot of physical and mental health benefits. Find a routine that works for you so you can incorporate physical activities in your daily schedule. By being patient and consistent, you will soon reap the rewards of all that hard work.
Watch this video to understand why and how exercise relieves stress and improves your mental health: