Five Ways to Create a Healthy Movement Routine
Five Ways to Create a Healthy Movement Routine
Incorporating regular physical activity into your daily routine can greatly benefit your overall health and wellbeing. However, with busy schedules and other commitments, sticking to a consistent movement routine can be challenging. If you’ve been struggling to commit to regular exercise, don’t worry – it’s never too late to start! In this blog post, we’ll be sharing five effective ways to create a healthy movement routine, so you can enjoy all the benefits of an active lifestyle.
Find an activity you enjoy – One of the most important factors for creating a sustainable movement routine is finding an activity that you genuinely enjoy. Trying to force yourself to do a workout that you don't enjoy will only lead to frustration and a lack of motivation. Whether it's hiking, swimming, dancing, or weight lifting, find an activity that sparks joy and makes you excited to move.
Set realistic goals – Setting realistic, achievable goals is crucial to staying motivated and seeing progress in your movement routine. Be specific and realistic when setting your goals and modify them as needed. For example, if your goal is to run a 5k, start with a walk/run program and gradually increase your running time. Celebrate each milestone and don't compare yourself to others on social media, admire others if you must but focus on your own progress.
Schedule Your Exercise – With so many demands on our time, exercise can often be pushed to the wayside. By scheduling sessions in advance, it becomes easier to fit routine into your daily life without scheduling conflicts. You can also make movement a non-negotiable by setting firm boundaries around that time block and not allowing anything else to interfere. Prioritizing your health is a must, make it a priority.
Get accountability – Having accountability can be a crucial motivator to stick to a routine that we all need. Support and encouragement from friends and family can make a huge difference in progress, or you can participate in fitness classes or groups to have some sense of community. Enlist a workout partner to share this journey with and makes it fun by being accountable to each other. You could also consult personal trainers, fitness coaches, or physical therapists to help set goals, develop effective routines, and track your progress.
Celebrate Small Wins – Celebrating small wins is essential to staying motivated and keeping up the habit. Remember progress comes from consistency, making habit-forming your lifestyle, affirming positive outcomes along the way. If you accomplished starting your day with a morning run, celebrate that with a healthy breakfast or make plans to attend a yoga class later in the week. Small wins can add up and inspire you to keep pushing and achieving your overall goals.
Creating a consistent movement routine may seem like a daunting task, but implementing these five effective strategies can help make it achievable and enjoyable. Remember that the key to a healthy lifestyle is consistency, making the habit-forming process an exciting journey. By finding activities that we like, setting realistic goals, scheduling our sessions, finding support and celebrating small wins, we can enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle while taking all the benefits that come with it. Get moving!