How do you make exercise a habit? [blog]
Why is it that you can start training – have the best intentions in the world, get three weeks into it and run out of steam? All of a sudden you’re back where you started... sitting on the couch feeling guilty.
This is a cycle I have been through many times in the last 3 years. Starting running, getting injured and stopping. Starting yoga, getting bored and stopping. Starting football, it clashes with work, stopping. Every time I stopped I got more and more frustrated with myself.
Suddenly though –It’s different. I’ve started, I’m turning up consistently, I’m enjoying it and it’s getting easier – not harder to keep turning up.
As a tutor in the fitness industry I’ve talked to many students over the last 2 years that have regular exercise habits, the common theme is that they have figured out what works for them. For some it’s having a training partner, for some it’s having a PT (yes even PT’s can have a PT themselves). Others find classes or sport works really well. However what stands out across the board for everyone – is that they do things they enjoy!
Sounds logical – we are more likely to do stuff we like than stuff we hate, but it’s something in my experience that we don’t take seriously enough. I remember other trainers writing programmes for me and when I complained about an exercise that I hated they told me to harden up. They said I should do it anyway because it was good for me. What happened? I didn’t do the programme. Unfortunately I also have embarrassing memories of doing the exact same thing to my poor clients. Example: Client: “I hate this exercise” Me: “Me too”. What should I have done at this point?… Stopped and given them an exercise they liked. What did I do? Made them do it anyway.
So how have I managed to get into a regular habit after three years of trying? What has made it ‘click’ for me? A training partner and surprise surprise – doing a programme I like. The other thing that has helped is not being so hard on myself. If I miss a session thats ok. My training partner will help me make it up and give me postive reinforcement. The lesson I have learned: Don't make it hard or unpleasant. Do what is easy and enjoyable and you have a much greater chance of sticking with it. What has worked for you and/or your clients?
I now find really short, quite easy (with bits of hard), skill based or play based stuff most likely to happen... although still too infrequent.