Emmie Webb
There are countless excuses as to why people don’t exercise. We’re providing you with the top five, along with solutions that may surprise you!
1. You’re too busy, and if you do have time, you feel guilty taking time away from family or work.
Life is undoubtedly crazy and busy! Between kids, work, responsibilities, a small social life, and sleep (when possible), there is very little time left to carve out for a workout. But did you know that a one-hour workout is only 4% of your day?! Yes, it’s true, and a 30-minute sweat session is only 2% of your day. That’s 2% of your day for you and 98% for everything else. Doable, right?! Also, did you know that taking time for yourself to work out actually makes you more productive in other aspects of life? Yes, it’s true. Moving your body is proven to ease mental health struggles and stress and increase productivity, energy, and happiness. When you shift your mindset to what you gain instead of the time you lose, it puts it all into perspective. You can see that it’s definitely worth carving out the time to do it! As we learn to make time and take time for ourselves, everyone in our lives will be blessed by our increased mental and physical health. We must show up for ourselves to teach others to do the same thing.
2. You just don’t have the motivation.
Getting motivated to work out is not easy unless you find ways to move that you love! Yes, it’s true; you do not have to hate fitness. There are so many ways to move and sweat, so if you think you “hate it,” you just haven’t found the right outlet for you! Try as many different activities as you can to find ways to sweat that make you smile and leave you with endorphins and that mental high that increases your craving for physical movement. Pickleball, rock climbing, HIGH fitness—truly, the possibilities are endless. Also, you do not have to do the same thing all the time; every day can be a new adventure. Taking a break or missing days does not mean that you should give up! Think of it as brushing your teeth; if you miss a day, would you give up completely? No! You would just pick up where you left off and continue on. You have to apply this mindset to working out. When you can’t get the motivation yourself, rely on others. Whether it’s an accountability partner or a group class that is counting on you to show up, rely on someone else to keep you accountable until you can show up for yourself.
3. You don’t know where to start.
Being a beginner sucks; you feel insecure, anxious, and tentative about trying new things. But guess what? We all have to start somewhere, and that’s OK! Set your expectations low and be happy with whatever you accomplish; getting there and trying it out is the hardest part! Ask friends and family for recommendations on what they do for their workouts and/or ask them for a fitness date!
4. Health reasons, injury, autoimmune conditions.
Always consult your doctor before trying any exercise. Movement should make you feel good, not cause pain or injuries. Injuries and health issues are tricky because every person's issues and capabilities are different. People tend to go from 0 to 100 and not in between, but Rome wasn’t built in a day, and light regular workouts can lead to significant benefits. The rule of thumb is that it should not hurt, and modifying or adjusting workouts to suit you is not making the workout less beneficial; it’s actually making it more beneficial because then you won’t find yourself getting hurt. So, modify away! There is no doubt that nursing an injury or coming back from surgery or illness can be very frustrating. If you are faced with this situation, try reframing your thoughts from what you can’t do to what you still can do. While you may not be able to do certain things while rehabbing or with an injury, consult with your doctors and physical therapists and ask what you can do. In turn, you will realize how movement can be achieved in many forms and different ways.
5. Lack of resources, equipment, gym, etc. (cost).
Many people find large treadmills and other fitness equipment to be bulky, expensive, and not motivating (does anyone else use their machines as a clothing rack?). Did you know that there are many fun and amazing workouts, including HIGH fitness, that require zero equipment? Bodyweight exercises are very effective, and all you need is you!
We want to prioritize movement because we love our bodies, not because we want to punish them. When we change our "why" behind the workout, it opens up a whole new mindset to build healthy habits and relationships with overall wellness, and in the end, that is what it is all about.
3. You don’t know where to start.
Being a beginner sucks; you feel insecure, anxious, and tentative about trying new things. But guess what? We all have to start somewhere, and that’s OK! Set your expectations low and be happy with whatever you accomplish; getting there and trying it out is the hardest part! Ask friends and family for recommendations on what they do for their workouts and/or ask them for a fitness date!
4. Health reasons, injury, autoimmune conditions.
Always consult your doctor before trying any exercise. Movement should make you feel good, not cause pain or injuries. Injuries and health issues are tricky because every person's issues and capabilities are different. People tend to go from 0 to 100 and not in between, but Rome wasn’t built in a day, and light regular workouts can lead to significant benefits. The rule of thumb is that it should not hurt, and modifying or adjusting workouts to suit you is not making the workout less beneficial; it’s actually making it more beneficial because then you won’t find yourself getting hurt. So, modify away! There is no doubt that nursing an injury or coming back from surgery or illness can be very frustrating. If you are faced with this situation, try reframing your thoughts from what you can’t do to what you still can do. While you may not be able to do certain things while rehabbing or with an injury, consult with your doctors and physical therapists and ask what you can do. In turn, you will realize how movement can be achieved in many forms and different ways.
5. Lack of resources, equipment, gym, etc. (cost).
Many people find large treadmills and other fitness equipment to be bulky, expensive, and not motivating (does anyone else use their machines as a clothing rack?). Did you know that there are many fun and amazing workouts, including HIGH fitness, that require zero equipment? Bodyweight exercises are very effective, and all you need is you!
We want to prioritize movement because we love our bodies, not because we want to punish them. When we change our "why" behind the workout, it opens up a whole new mindset to build healthy habits and relationships with overall wellness, and in the end, that is what it is all about.