Fall doesn’t officially arrive until September 22nd, but there is no reason to wait another 10 days to kick-start a new exercise routine. By shifting gears and altering your weekly workout regime (even a tad), you’ll see results faster and avoid frustrating ruts and plateaus.
Before diving head first into a new fitness schedule consider the following:
Scenery. Mix it up a bit. A change of scenery can benefit all of us. This is especially true if you have a hard time motivating yourself to get up for that 6 a.m. jog or bike ride on a crisp (see: cold) fall day. We need variety to stay motivated, so rather than work out in the same place at the same time each day try something different. Find new places to exercise. If you jog around your neighborhood each day consider enrolling in a spin class at the gym. Or try a new sport such as basketball or get a workout buddy to go along with you on those early morning runs.
Focus. Feeling bad about how you haven’t worked out since last spring is not the way to approach a new program. If you’ve failed to maintain a regular exercise program in the past, so what? Focus on the present. Learn from your mistakes and apply those lessons to your current fitness plan. Commit to your new goals and think long-term instead of dwelling on past failures. Also, if you miss a few days while on your current plan don’t throw in the towel. Simply pick up where you left off and try to stay motivated.
Time. There are 168 hours in a week. Surely you can set aside 2% of that time to devote to your health and physical and mental well being. By exercising for a mere three hours per week (that’s less than 30 minutes per day) you can improve your life dramatically. After all, there is no better investment of your time than maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
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