Little Lists: 5 Tips for an Active Lifestyle

"There are lots of people in this world who spend so much time watching their health, they haven't the time to enjoy it."

Josh Billings

     Over the last few weeks I have been making a more conscious effort to incorporate physical activity into my weekly schedule. I have been trying to challenge myself to make changes to the way I view fitness and how I can go about living a more active and ultimately more healthy life. 

     In saying that, I don't want working or thoughts about my health to take over my life! I still want to have time to enjoy myself and not constantly be worrying about what I'm eating or how often I exercise.

     I want to take care of my body, and one of the best ways I believe I can do that is by staying physically active. 
     I'm not looking to lose any weight or inches, I just want to feel healthy, add a bit of tone, build my endurance, and take care of the one body I've got!

     With that in mind, I've been learning a lot about what works and what doesn't work for me as far as routines and activities, and I'm here to share with you my findings! 

1. No Gym Required (necessarily) 

     For a long time, joining the gym wasn't an option for me simply because it wasn't in the budget. 
     Because of this I thought I wouldn't be able to work out effectively or properly. I'm glad I proved myself wrong! All I needed was Pinterest! I looked up a few at-home workout circuits and away I went. If I don't know how to do a certain exercise, I look it up on youtube. 
     If joining the gym will help you - try it out first! Don't commit to a gym membership right away. Why not pay the drop-in fee a couple times to see if the gym is a right fit for you?

2. Do What You Love 

     I really don't like running. I have tried and tried to enjoy it, but the reality is I find it extremely boring. I honestly can't force myself out of bed in the morning to get out for a run. No motivation! 
     Because of this aversion to running, I've discovered that it's important to find something you love to do, otherwise failure is imminent. 
     Instead of forcing myself to run, I go hiking, rollerblading, or I jump rope. These activities are much more appealing to me and therefor I am more inclined to do them. Discover what you love and get out and do it! You'll be more likely to incorporate an activity you love into your daily routine than something you loathe doing.

 3. One Step at a Time 

     Start small. Don't set your goals so high that you're setting yourself up for failure. 
     For example, I committed to getting active at least three times per week because I knew that I could fulfill that goal. If I had decided out of the blue that I would commit to getting active every day, I would inevitably miss a day or two, get discouraged, and given up. 
     Be realistic. Start small. Work up to bigger goals. Want to run 5km? You need to be able to run 2km, then 3km, ect. Set yourself up for success!

4. Schedule it In

     As I mentioned, I have committed to getting active at least three times per week. I came up with this number based on my schedule and how well activities would work with my other commitments throughout the week. I like to exercise in the morning simply because I'm not usually motivated by the end of the day and many of my weekly commitments take place in the evening. . 
     So, keeping this in mind, I picked days and times to exercise and hold myself to those times. Scheduling it in has helped immensely in how I view my week and my free time. 

5. Get Your Friends on Board

     I feel so blessed to have friends who want to be fit and healthy and who enjoy being on the journey together. Why not see if your friends are willing to get involved? Having  friends to do activities with is so helpful - they keep you accountable, and you can motivate each other. 
     Maybe your friends aren't ready to commit to your specific workout schedule - why not plan your hang out time around a physical activity? Skip Starbucks and go for a walk. It will save you money and get you moving!  
 

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      I hope these tips inspire you to get out there and be active without feeling like you have to remodel your entire life. Being fit and healthy is an attainable goal and there are many ways to reach it - find what works for you!
     I'm excited about what I've learned so far in this journey - I will keep you updated as I continue!

     Do you have any active lifestyle tips?

     Have a lovely day!
-Carley 
xx    
      

     *Quote graphic by Moments in Design

*Photo by Debbie