Making Exercise A Habit

"Life is like a ten-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use."...Charles M. Schultz

Life's Little Habits

Everyone has habits...daily rituals or actions that become fixed practices in our lives. We often think of habits as being unconscious and compulsive. And, even more often, we think of habits as being something bad that we would like to "break" or stop engaging in! However, not all habits are bad! In fact, some habits are actually healthy and necessary!

Bad Habits VS Good Habits

I used to constantly bite my fingernails. My mother tried everything within her power to get me to stop! Nothing worked! This was a habit that had become compulsive. Most of the time, I didn't even realize that I was biting my nails, until I chewed a nail down so far that I drew blood and caused a bit of pain! As an adult, I finally managed to conquer that "bad" (and very annoying) habit. It took a conscious effort on my part and a great deal of determination to stop biting my nails. I presume that most of us develop at least one bad habit over the course of our lives that we'd like to break!

But, what about the good habits that we develop? There are some routines that we should actually strive to turn into habits. Exercise is such a routine. In fact, exercise is not only a good habit to get into, it's an essential habit!

The Exercise Habit!

As stated in the above quote by Charles M. Schultz, "most of us have gears we never use." Americans have increasingly adopted sedentary lifestyles. Unfortunately, such a lifestyle is usually detrimental to one's health. After all, the human body was created to move! Lack of movement may be cutting years off the lives of many Americans!

To be truly effective, exercise must become a habit. It must be done routinely, several times per week. Habitual exercise will trim and tone your body, as well as strengthen muscles, including your heart. Stronger muscles and a leaner body mass can contribute to a healthier, longer life.

Building the Exercise Habit

To successfully build the exercise habit, choose an activity that you enjoy, such as walking or swimming. You won't make a habit out of exercise if you don't find it to be fun! Make sure that you have the ability and skills to participate in the activity that you have chosen. Then, set aside a few minutes each day to do that activity. (Pick a time of day that suits you and set realistic goals. You certainly do not want to set yourself up for failure!) Even if all you do in the beginning is get up out of your chair and take a short walk around your office building, it's better than doing nothing! Every little movement, every little step you take, is a step towards building your new exercise habit! So, begin with baby steps and gradually increase the length and intensity of your workouts.

Keep in mind that exercise encompasses a wide variety of activities, including dancing, team sports (i.e. basketball and tennis), hiking, canoeing...even walking around the mall! There's an activity that's perfect for everyone! If you hate running or bicycling, you certainly don't want to choose either of those activities. If you prefer exercising alone, choose an activity that you can do by yourself. Pick one or more activities that you wouldn't mind doing regularly and make them your habit...for a lifetime! It's time to get up off that sofa and MOVE your body!

Note: Before beginning any exercise program, consult your medical professional. Excessive exercise can also be detrimental to your health. Keep in mind that all things should be done in moderation!

Cyndi Schoenhals
CPT and fitness writer

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