4 Ideas for Making Exercise Happen

There is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to exercising. Let’s face it, I’m probably never going to be that person who goes to the gym every morning at 5:00 a.m. I’m also not going to be the person who does super-intense workout videos that leave me dying at the end. People who do those things have my admiration and respect, but I am never going to stick to that routine.

Now, getting up at 5:45 a.m. and fitting in a five-minute workout while still in my pajamas? That I can probably do.

One friend takes her walks in the mall after work. Another friend does kick boxing in the afternoon. A few years ago, my sister asked for a boxing bag for Christmas that we could hang in the basement. Some people prefer exercising in the morning. Others prefer exercising at the end of the day.

Don’t feel guilty if what you do looks different from what other people do. The point is to take care of your body and mind. Try out some different methods and find what works best for your body and your schedule. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Join a Class

Myriad exercise classes are offered through community centers, YMCAs, gyms, and private businesses. Classes offer us the opportunity to have accountability, guidance, and the support of a community. A two-in-one deal may include classes that teach skills such as martial arts, boxing, or kick-boxing: you exercise and learn self-defense.

Keep an open mind to different forms of exercise and sports. For one college PE class, I ended up taking badminton. The first day, my instructor passionately informed us this was a serious sport and not your “typical backyard badminton.” Now badminton is a sport I really enjoy, and I get excited about the rare opportunities to play it.

Of course, classes are usually going to cost money. But you may end up spending a lot more money on health issues that come from not exercising. If you like structure, find a class that interests you and inspires you to exercise. Just budget for it and enjoy yourself.

Get a Gym Membership

Many gyms have equipment and trainers to help meet your exercise goals. For another college PE class, I took women’s weight training, which made me stronger over the course of the semester. Even after college, I enjoyed making the rounds through the weight machines at gyms.

While living with my parents in my early teaching days, I drove to the YMCA once a week to use the treadmill and weight machines. Since I wasn’t going to the YMCA enough to justify a membership, I purchased ten visits at a time. The YMCA gave me a punch card, and once I filled up my ten visits, I purchased another one. This enabled me to try one form of exercise without making a major financial commitment right away.

In April, I decided that I needed to get out of the house to exercise. So I joined Planet Fitness, which is costing me $30 per month since I wanted the flexibility to going to any Planet Fitness. Considering that I am now going every day after school to work out (and use the massage chairs!), it has been a good deal.

Find an Exercise Partner

Although walking, running outdoors, or going to the gym offers benefits, it is not necessarily safe to do these forms of exercise alone. There is greater safety and accountability when we exercise with someone. Plus, combining exercise with social time can be enjoyable. Find someone at your church, at work, or in your family to partner with you. You may even make a new friend from someone who was originally only an acquaintance.

Use Exercise Videos

Finding a safe, comfortable way to exercise while living away from my family was challenging at first. My family did not want me to go out on walking trails alone. When I first moved to Cleveland, my budget was too tight to consider a gym. Finally, I wondered about free exercise videos on YouTube. My first thought was to find some martial arts training videos. However, nothing promising came up from my search.

Then, I remembered the exercise videos Mom used when I was a child. Denise Austin had always been her favorite. Sure enough, her YouTube channel came right up. She even had five-minute “Fast and Fit” workouts—one exercise routine to follow for each month. So I selected one and started in. I’ll admit—I felt rather sheepish at first. It felt a little odd to hear Austin’s encouraging words and admonitions as I followed along in my apartment. But I tried it again and again, and those five-minute workouts have been a great help.

Now, I appreciate when Denise Austin tells me that I am strengthening my spine, lengthening certain muscles, or improving my flexibility. And since it only takes five minutes in my home, I can easily fit it in before getting ready in the morning.

Once I established that routine, I searched for another of Mom’s favorites: Leslie Sansone. The first of her walking videos I tried was okay, but not exciting. Then I found one that was a one-mile “heart healthy” walk. That fifteen-minute exercise video clicked for me and allowed me to raise my heart rate and get my blood flowing.

These days, we have easy access to a plethora of exercise instructions and encouragement. We don’t even have to pay for the instruction or a bunch of exercise equipment. Using online exercise videos can be a free, safe, and time-effective way to boost our energy, mood, and health.