We know the theory: being physically active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is good for our overall health. We know that, if we can integrate the recommended habits into our daily lives, the benefits are multiple and proven: physical health improves, emotional well-being and self-esteem increases, social relationships and the ability to concentrate improve; we have better work performance, we are better able to manage the daily rhythm with family obligations, and, overall, we are in a better mood and we get better rest.
If we have the mentioned ideas so clear, why is it so difficult for us to take the first step? The beginnings of physical activity, don’t be wrong, are hard. The benefits are not noticed until we integrate them naturally into the daily or weekly routine. To get to that point, we need to go through a short journey crossing the desert during which we will feel: laziness, discomfort, stress, an increase in body temperature, and others. It is the toll that must be paid to obtain the mentioned benefits.
These lines are not encouraging, we know. Nonetheless, the idea is to try to take the first steps on healthy and sporty habits to become the kind of people who have the goal of making a real change in their lifes.
Followingly, we will see how to minimize the annoying effects and gradually achieve our goal of starting to practice physical activity to avoid the mentioned obstacles.
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We must have confidence in ourselves and think that we can reach the goal. It may seem absurd, but it is crucial if we want to achieve a healthy routine because there will be days that we will not want to continue the effort.
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It is essential to look for a motivating activity. We don't need to sign up for what everyone else does or what is fashionable. Instead, we should start doing what interests us and what we feel most comfortable doing. If necessary, we can try different activities until we end up discovering the one or the ones that best fit us.
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Let’s not do more than what is necessary. It is better to start with shorter and fewer sessions, although it may seem ridiculous, and as we feel comfortable, we will increase the time and frequency.
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Find a schedule that does not interfere with our daily obligations. Let's think about our routine: are you a morning person? Maybe we can play sports first thing in the morning while the family is still sleeping. Do you have a split schedule? Midday is a good time to take advantage of time. Break-time is often wasted by keeping seated and, perhaps, eating more than we should. Playing sports first thing in the morning or at noon allows us to leave the task done and not think about it the rest of the day. Do your children do extracurricular activities? It can be a good time to dress up in sports and take advantage of that moment when we don't have time to do other things. When you finish work, you have no obligations? Well, the answer is obvious!
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Decide where it will be more practical or where you would like to do the activity. At home? Currently, we can find many tutorials that can help us, although it is best to put ourselves in the hands of a professional who guides us. Go to the gym? We will have directed activities, a fitness room, a swimming pool, and technicians who can guide us. Outdoor? If we are tired of being locked up all day, we can search for activities where we are in contact with nature. Do we need to relate to other people? We can do team sports. Although they have the difficulty that we depend on other practitioners, it is an ideal combination of sport and social life: paddle tennis, tennis, football, basketball, etc.
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Give value to the routine. It is relevant that the chosen activity is within our priorities and has a place in our agenda as if it were going to the doctor or work. If not, we will always find an excuse for not abandoning.
We cannot avoid the sensations that we have described at the beginning, but we can minimize them if we think carefully about what activity we want to do, how we want it, where we want to do it, with whom we want to do it and what value we give it.
Now, we just need to rely on our willpower and turn the theory into a reality that improves our day-to-day.
