- Exercising is one of the most common New Year's resolutions that people fail to commit to.
- A common excuse people use to quit their fitness journey is not having enough time.
- Being too tired and budgeting are also some of the most common excuses people use for not exercising.
With most people exercising and joining the gym as a New Year's resolution, January has become the most common month for fitness. However, that enthusiasm dies down and by the end of February, we have the gyms back to their normal state.
From finding the most suitable exercises to making time from our busy schedules, there are many contributors that stop people from exercising and going to the gym.
1. Solve for 'not having enough time'
Whether it is having to travel to the gym every day before or after work or taking a morning jog before dropping off the kids at school, people find it hard to exercise because of their busy schedules.
However, Colleen says that it is a matter of priority, and if you are determined to remain fit you should be able to put together a viable plan that includes exercise.
"I recommend a 'reality check,' which is simply starting a day plan, where you list all your day's activities and the amount of time you spend on each activity - from the time you wake up to when you go to bed," says Colleen. Once you have broken down your daily activities, you can see how you spend your time and cut down the time you spend on some activities.
2. Solve for 'being too tired'
Like the first excuse of not having enough time, being too tired means that exercising is not your priority and you make it your last activity of the day.
Colleen says you can try waking up 30 minutes earlier so that you can have time to exercise in the morning or you can have a quick workout session in between meetings.
Do not make the gym the only place where you exercise and try to find a way to include exercise into your daily schedule instead of leaving it for the last minute when you no longer have energy.
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3. Solve for 'lack of motivation'
It is easy to get demotivated and quit exercising when you are alone.
You should consider joining a workout community such as a running club or finding a gym buddy. This will help to keep each other motivated and hold each other accountable when there is slack.
Colleen also suggests using the "five-sec rule" whereby you act on something that's on your mind within the first five seconds of thinking about it.
"So, if today is the day you have determined that you want to reclaim your fitness, the minute you think about it, you must physically do one small action, even if that means researching what you are going to do next."
4. Solve for 'fear of looking silly'
Stepping into the gym for the very first time without knowing where to start can have you feeling a bit embarrassed. But you have to understand that everyone has to start somewhere and as time goes by you will be more confident.
Colleen says "It's important to realign our thinking and give our brain the correct information by being determined to turn fear into excitement." So instead of thinking that being a first-time exerciser is embarrassing, turn it into a positive thought of working towards your desired body and keeping fit.
5. Solve for 'budget'
The narrative of gym and exercise being a luxury and an expense should be changed. Exercising should be viewed as a priority and people should find ways to invest in it.
You do not always have to go to the gym and Colleen says there are more cost-effective ways to exercise. She advised that we research the most suitable ways to exercise without having to spend large amounts of money.
She further alluded that you could follow someone who has a fitness platform on social media and use their home exercises.
