Exercise: How to Get Started When You Feel Like You Can’t

Do you feel like you exercise as much as you should? For a lot of us, the answer is no. Common reasons include not being able to find time for exercise, feeling physically unable to exercise, and not knowing what to do or where to start. Each reason is valid and understandable. Many people think of exercise as a chore or a task rather than an enjoyable activity. When we view it like that, it’s no wonder we can’t find time for it.

I address each of these areas in my book How to Live Until You Die. While getting started with exercise may seem daunting at first, it can quickly become one of your favorite things to do. Not only does regular exercise do wonders for your body, it also has a positive impact on your mind as well. Exercise will recharge your batteries and leave you feeling re-energized and able to focus better. Even short bursts of exercise each day will produce results. You just need to know what to do and when to do it.

Start by moving more today than you did yesterday.

For anyone who feels out of shape, or has a serious medical condition or chronic pain, getting started can be the hardest thing. Sometimes complicated exercise programs and rigorous routines just aren’t an option. But don’t be discouraged. The best thing to do is to just start. In How to Live Until You Die I share a real-life example from my own family.

When my dad was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, he was in so much pain that he could barely get out of bed. He knew exercise would help him, but he wasn’t able to do anything more than walking. So he started walking each day. He couldn’t go very far at first, but he kept it simple and walked a little bit further each day than he had the day before. In a short time, he went from being virtually immobile to walking three or four miles a day. Eventually he was able to add in chores and yardwork too.

Walking is extremely beneficial to your health, and it’s our natural way of moving from place to place. Keep it simple, and go for a walk today. It doesn’t have to be a long walk, but try to track your distance and see if you can go a little bit further tomorrow. Getting fresh air outside and spending the time walking is very therapeutic as well. I know this from first hand experience. As I explain in How to Live Until You Die, I went through a very stressful period in my life and taking regular walks gave me great peace.

If you work at a desk job, spending most of your time at a computer, it might seem like normal walks won’t fit your schedule. When you add up the time you spend at work, on your commute, and on your responsibilities at home, when can you find time to exercise? There are a few things you can try. If you work in an area that doesn’t have a good place to walk, try just walking around the building a few times during your lunch break. You can also break up the monotony of sitting at your computer all day by just moving around a little bit. There are several exercises that you can perform right in your office or at your cubicle. You might want to consider taking breaks a few times throughout the day to do some squats, desk dips, and core exercises.

Once you get started there are several fun exercise habits you can start building into your life. If you haven’t tried some types of exercise, you might unknowingly be missing out on an activity that you love. Tennis, biking, swimming, running, and even yoga are all great forms of exercise that you can do regularly while keeping your routine simple. You might find that you thoroughly enjoy one of them, and you will feel much better physically when you are engaging in exercise regularly. To learn more about how to get started and how to find the exercise that is right for you, grab your copy How to Live Until You Die today. Also, visit my resources page for a free Personal Health Inventory guide, a free Balanced Energy Guide and more!

 

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil