One of the biggest challenges beginners have when trying to exercise is commitment. It’s far too common for people to start an activity or join a gym, only to give it up within days or weeks.
Abandoning an exercise as a beginner is a problem for a variety of reasons. But one of them is that getting started in a new activity is often the most difficult part of the process. By quitting early, beginners often end up leaving before they experience both the results of their hard work and the pleasure they can get from doing an exercise they’re good at.
The good news is that if you’re someone who has had problems committing to an exercise in the past, there are ways to help you get past those commitment issues. Here are some tips that can help improve your chances of sticking with an exercise long enough to turn it into a habit.
1 – Start slow
Beginners are often prone to overtraining, especially when they are trying to start without proper supervision. Pushing past your limits can feel good in the moment, but turning an activity into a habit requires regular repetition. And if you push too hard early in the week, you won’t have the steam needed to keep practicing by the end of the week.
At best, overtraining yourself can wear down your motivation. At worst, it can lead to a serious injury. Either way, it’s best to follow a beginner-friendly training plan when you’re starting out to prevent pushing yourself too hard.
2 – Choose an activity you like
There are hundreds of different ways to get exercise, and there is no rule saying that you need to choose the same activity everyone else is doing. Everything from running to hiking, swimming, dancing, and fighting can help you work up a sweat. And if you try a few of these activities, there is a good chance you’ll find one you enjoy.
Finding an activity you enjoy can make it much easier to stay motivated through the first few weeks of exercising.
3 – Visualize the results
It’s easier to stay motivated if you have a clear goal. Whether you’re trying to stay healthy, reach a fitness goal, or change your appearance, having a solid final goal can be useful early on, as you can focus your efforts on achieving your goal.
Depending on what you’re trying to achieve, you can even skip doing certain types of exercise and focus on others. For example, if your goal is just to improve your health, you don’t need to do that much strength training every week. On the other hand, if you’re looking to get that perfect beach body, it may be a good idea to focus on exercises like leg press for glutes, as this website explains.
4 – Socialize
This works better for some beginners than others. But having a group to practice with you and encourage you to keep going can be a great way to stay motivated.
This can be achieved by joining local gym classes, dance classes, or other local group activities. There are also online support groups that help people looking for guidance and encouragement.
And the best part is that once you get past being a beginner, you get to pay back the favor by helping other beginners as they join the group. That is not only a good way to meet new people, but it can also give you the motivation to keep practicing.
