Sadly summer is coming to an end. We had Euro 2016, then Wimbledon and finally the Rio Olympics. Sunshine, holidays and the emotions brought to us by many phenomenal athletes, gave us a good dose of energy and inspiration. So what’s next?
With the start of September and kids returning to school, we enter another phase of 2016 and many of us are looking at best ways to organise our daily schedules for the coming months, trying to balance out various priorities. Whether you are putting your upcoming work trips into your diary or planning your kids’ activities for the new term, don’t forget to also think about your exercise routine, as physical activity is one of the pillars of health.
When it comes to sports at any level, consistency is key. Same goes for exercising in order to stay fit and healthy: shorter but regular workouts are much better than big sessions once a week. So how can we turn physical activity into a sustainable habit that fits our lifestyle? Here are some top tips for you:
- Don’t focus only on sport sessions. Try to also find ways to move more throughout the day
This might be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the lift. Getting a pedometer or activity tracker such as fitbit will help you stay motivated.
- Keep experimenting until you find the type of activity, which you truly enjoy
I really believe that there is something for everyone, no matter whether you consider yourself an athletic person or not. There are so many various options to choose from. You should consider whether you want to train indoors or outdoors, alone or with a group, at what time of the day, with music or without etc. Rather than trying to come up with the perfect activity that ticks all the boxes, just start trying out various forms of exercise and see what you enjoy most.
- Choose something that fits your lifestyle
If you have an unpredictable work schedule and travel a lot, don’t set yourself up for failure by signing up for a group class, as it is highly unlikely that you will be able to regularly show up on the same day of the week. You would be better off signing up for 1-to-1 sessions with a personal trainer or working out on your own with an app such as Freeletics or SkyFit. Look at the existing patterns in your daily and weekly schedule and try to identify what sort of exercise routine is realistic and will fit in smoothly, rather than add stress.
Remember to be kind to yourself and to listen to your body. When you find the right type of activity and schedule it well, exercise will become a fun part of your life and you’ll experience its positive influence on your mental and physical well-being.
Our guest blogger, Anna Desogus, is a Health & Wellness Coach based in Wimbledon.
Get your special gift:
Visit: www.annadesogus.com
Twitter: @anna_desogus
Facebook: @AnnaDesogusCoaching
