GETTING BACK ON TRACK BY KWAVI CHRISTY AGBEYEGBE

June 26, 2018

If you have fallen off the exercise radar, or are yet to start, Lifestyle Coach Kwavi Agbeyegbe shares some tips to get back on track saying it’s all about forming habits.

These are just a half dozen excuses we give for not exercising. Understandably women are often too busy doing one thing or the other for someone other than ourselves, however, we have to make the time to exercise. You have to make it a priority in your life. It is hard to give to others when you are not taking care of yourself. Making exercise a habit is not easy. But you can—and should—do it, especially if you want to make the next years of your life healthier and happier than the ones before.

In making an effort to incorporate healthy lifestyle consistency plays a big role in the likelihood of your success. The more habitual daily exercise becomes for you, the less likely you will be to make excuses not to do it. Ladies, here are some suggestions on fitting exercise into your busy schedule.

Exercise at the same time every day.If you routinely use, “I don’t have time” as an excuse to avoid exercising, take another look at your schedule. Find 30 minutes in your day for some energetic action. Whether it is first thing in the morning or right after work, exercising at the same time every day should help you in your quest to workout consistently.

Use “but” when excuses crop up. When you start to hear the voice in your head listing the reasons you can’t exercise today, refocus on the reasons why you should. For example, if you hear “I can’t exercise today because I’m just too exhausted,” respond with “But, if I do exercise today, I will feel energized and less tired and I will be a much better daughter, wife, or mother.”

Use a trigger to psyche yourself up. Is there a song that makes you feel really good? Perhaps one that pumps you up and energizes you? Listen to it before or during every workout. Your brain will begin to associate the song with the good feelings you get from exercise. Then, the next time you start to make an excuse not to exercise, turn on the song.

Give yourself a daily reminder of the benefits. Write the benefits that are most important to you on a piece of paper and post it on your bathroom mirror, your computer monitor, maybe your refrigerator door. Take a moment each day to read the list and think about all the good that will come from your daily workout.

Find good role models. Look around you – you likely already know someone who is exercising regularly and benefiting from it. Make them a role model. If you don’t know anyone personally you can join a fitness group online.

Don’t expect perfection. Don’t beat yourself up if you skip sometimes. Instead, do what you need to get back on track as soon as possible. You will likely find that you truly miss the good feelings you get from your regular workout. And that will motivate you to work even harder tomorrow.

The best things in life—like physical fitness—rarely come easily. You have to work for them in order to reap the benefits, and that means a little inconvenience. However, you can minimize this by keeping your routine simple. You don’t have to drive to a gym and spend time on complicated equipment. All you really need is appropriate footwear and a safe open road, a skipping rope, or even your living room and a DVD.

You can reach coach Kwavi on kwavi@kwavi.com