When I look back at 2020, I think of it as the year that everyone collectively realized what’s important: our mental, physical, and emotional health. It’s more important than ever to adopt healthy habits that nourish us- body, mind, and soul. So today I’m sharing my top tips to build a fitness lifestyle you’ll love.
Commit to Moving Every Day.
Every single year in January, hundreds of thousands of individuals set fitness goals for themselves. Statistics show that more than 73% of those people give up shortly thereafter. The thing is… Many of our lives are largely sedentary. When you sit constantly, certain muscles begin to weaken from underuse, your metabolism goes down, and your body fatigues more easily. Before you try to build a workout routine, prep your body for movement.
Move More. Sit Less. The best thing you can do for your body is to commit to moving a little bit every day. Any type of movement above what you currently do can make a HUGE impact on how you feel.
Start Small
Aim for a slow progression into a regular exercise habit. If you start too fast, you can burn out and lose motivation. On the contrary, no amount of movement is too small to make a difference. It could be as simple as one of the following:
● Stand up and stretch every hour while you’re working
● Take a 15 minute walk after lunch
● Tune in to your favorite song at the end of the day and dance!
When you start small, you give yourself the chance to build consistency. Consistency is what makes a good habit last. Once you feel ready to do more, you can add more structured workouts.
Find Workouts You’ll Stick to
Workout trends and fads often trick you into thinking that there are certain types of workouts that are “better” for you than others. In the long run, the best type of workouts to complete are those that you’ll do consistently. I tell my clients to choose their workouts based on: how effective they are, how fun they are, or some combination of both.
What is an Effective Workout?
An effective workout is one that is geared toward helping you achieve your fitness goals. For example, if your goal is to get more flexible, a combination of cardio and mobility work will get you there. If you want to gain strength in your upper body, resistance training with exercises to work your arms, chest, shoulders, and back are your best option.
Effective workouts help you see tangible progress over time. Progress builds motivation, which can help you stay consistent.
What Makes a Workout Fun?
You may think that a truly effective workout can’t be fun. Think again! Even challenging workouts can be be enjoyable if they have one or more of the following elements:
● A coach that inspires you or makes you laugh
● An activity you love (i.e. dancing or your favorite sport)
● The opportunity to socialize with friends or acquaintances
● Great music
● A beautiful location
● The feeling of accomplishment during or after a workout
These are just a handful of ways that working out can be fun. I’m sure you can think of more reasons! Make a list of the various ways you can have fun while working out. It will help you choose what activities to do and motivate you to get moving!
If you need ideas for your workouts, head over to the Transform with Nadia YouTube Channel. I’ve got a ton of short, effective and fun workouts you can complete on your own at home!
Reflection Questions:
If you struggle with making time for exercise, get in the habit of asking yourself the following questions daily:
● How does my body feel right now?
● Have I moved today?
● What one small thing can I do to help my body feel good/better?
Trial and Error
All things considered, if you want to build a fitness routine you’ll love, you have to be willing to explore your options. It takes some trial and error to discover the types of exercise that work for you, the length of workouts that fit best into your life, and the goals that are most motivating for lasting success. Just keep in mind that making fitness a habit doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small by moving more today than you did yesterday. Then move forward from there.
Good luck!
Nadia Santiago is the founder of Transform with Nadia: Digital Fitness, Nutrition, and Wellness. She’s passionate about helping busy professionals create healthier, happier lives by teaching them how to build a lasting routine of exercise, nourishing eating habits, and positive lifestyle practices.
Nadia has a Masters degree in Transpersonal Psychology, is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, an OTA Certified Online Trainer, a Certified Precision Nutrition Coach, and a 500 hour Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher. Her combined expertise, along with nearly 10 years of experience working with clients, is what sets her apart from other online trainers and allows her to create practical, compassionate programming that helps community members transform from the inside out.
For more information about Nadia and Transform with Nadia, visit transformwithnadia.com.