Exercise is something we all know we should be doing and hopefully, you are well aware of the benefits of exercise and how that can help us stay healthy. However, it is not always as simple as spending 30-60 minutes each day on training or exercise. Common barriers to exercise include motivation, procrastination, work schedule or lack of time. We outline in our article below ways you can work around these barriers to make exercise a priority and a habit.
Motivation
The word motivation is thrown around a lot and it’s one of the biggest reasons why people struggle. Exercises are often viewed as a chore. Because of this, we think we require motivation to go for a run/get to the gym. However, It takes discipline to do these things and through discipline you find motivation! Pick exercises you enjoy! Instead of forcing yourself to do something you don’t want to do find something which you do enjoy (or the one you dislike the least) and fit that into your weekly routine. This will require less motivation and hopefully get you viewing exercise as a way to improve yourself and grow rather than they think you hate. Exercise will often give you more energy, better sleep, improve your mood and bring you greater satisfaction when completed.
Procrastination
This can be a barrier to almost anything in life that you don’t want to do, and the more you put
something off the less likely you are to do it. The bottom line is staring at your running shoes for 30 minutes will not get you very far. Counting to 3 seconds before starting a task straight away is a helpful technique for overcoming procrastination. Better still, picking something which you actually enjoy and look forward to is far more important
and will allow you to be consistent and change your mindset around exercise that it doesn’t have to
be terrible! If you are really struggling then perhaps booking a class in advance and having a weekly slot will
work best for you as this will hold you accountable and make your decision for you. You are going!!!
Work schedule
This can be a barrier to almost anything in life that you don’t want to do, and the more you put something off the less likely you are to do it. The bottom line is staring at your running shoes for 30 minutes will not get you very far. Counting to 3 seconds before starting a task straight away is a helpful technique for overcoming procrastination. Better still, picking something which you actually enjoy and look forward to it is far more important. It allows you to be more consistent and can help change your mindset, exercise doesn’t have to be terrible! If you are struggling then perhaps booking a class in advance and having a weekly slot will work best for you as this will hold you accountable and make your decision for you. You are going!!!
Lack of time/Family commitments
This can also fall into the category of not having enough time. Whether you have family commitments or social commitments, this is something that affects what you prioritise and how often you exercise. Socialising is so important for our mental health and allows us to relax and unwind on the weekends. We are all likely to have weeks that will throw us off our routine, but ultimately we need to find balance in our lifestyle to remain healthy. If your social life is affecting your ability to take care of your body especially the day after, then maybe it’s worth having fewer drinks and sufficient sleep today, to give it your best effort tomorrow.
Feeling overwhelmed
Exercise can feel overwhelming as it is often the reason that will put you off starting. Struggling to get back into your routine through fear of regression can also be seen as a barrier. The sooner you start the quicker you realise that you didn’t ruin all your progress in just a few weeks. Taking a week off intense exercise can be very good for our bodies and allow adequate rest and full recovery to take place. The key is to get back on track as soon as possible and not put off your return!
Financial/Location
This can be a major barrier for some who cannot afford gym memberships, major sports equipment
or clothing. If exercise isn’t something you love and do not wish to spend huge amounts on, the
good news is there are plenty of low cost/free ways to exercise that include:
- Walking
- Running
- Exercise classes
- Swimming
- Home workouts
- Free sport facilities
- Outdoor gyms
- Join a sports team
- Lack of Knowledge
If you are wanting to make a change but don’t know where to start, finding a personal trainer or
coach can be a great way to increase your knowledge, find out what works best for you and get you set up with specific goals. Exercise can be so much more appealing with goals in mind and something to work towards however big or small.
Do I need to be fit to have a Personal Trainer?
Absolutely not! This is something that shouldn’t be off-putting to anyone looking to start a fitness
journey. It is ok to ask for help, ask “stupid questions” and there certainly isn’t a score on the bleep
test you must achieve before getting a trainer. Coaches and trainers are there to help, educate and
take some of the stress and anxiety away from reaching your goals.
Who are we and how can we help?
We are Fast Track Fitness, personal trainers based in Twyford, Winchester. We offer: Personal Training, EMS, Pilates & Nutrition advice
If you’d like to contact us you can book a free trial at info@fasttrack-ems.com or call us on 07740 193 332.
