There’s so much said about what to do about fitness and how to live your healthiest life. Of course, some decisions we make are obvious in terms of how impactful and important they can be. If you smoke, for instance, it’s wise to begin the process of quitting. You can reach out to your government health service, charities or mutual support gorups to get started. Doing so could be the best decision you’ve made.
However, while structural pathways like that have been made easy, a good portion of fitness isn’t. Head to a gym and you may not know what machine or set of weights to use. Look online or in a magazine and you’re being sold a thousand different programs and supplements. Subscribe to a few YouTube channels and you’ll find various influencers all with their quasi-authoratative take on how to better yourself.
In this post, we’ll throw our hat in the ring, but with a carefully considered alternative – encouraging you to avoid overcomplicating this process, and instead make the practice better for you.
Find A Gym Environment You Feel Comfortable In
The best gyms are those you’re happy to walk in at any time of day. A high-end place with all the latest machines means nothing if you feel intimidated walking through the door or find yourself making excuses not to go there.
It could be the local leisure centre with its slightly dated equipment and friendly staff who remember your name, or if you want to follow a specific sport, a small boxing or rowing gym where everyone knows each other works well for some people. Your living room with some basic weights and a yoga mat might be perfect for you, but it’s nice to have a place for classes and people just like you learning the practice, too.
What Sport Do You Enjoy Watching?
Start with what you’re already drawn to, what makes you sit up and pay attention during a match or competition. Now, some sports aren’t as good for sustained exercise (like darts), but there are many you can train for in amateur clubs. If you find yourself glued to the TV during tennis tournaments, there’s probably something there worth exploring, and there may be novice classes taking place near you. If you love watching football, a local kickabout might be more engaging than grinding through another treadmill session. Remember, fitness, movement and exercise is supposed to be fun, not a slog!
Consider Sustainability Above All
If you can stick with this experience for years, not weeks or months, that’s a good selection. An intense six-day program that promises rapid results is probably not sustainable if you have a job, family, or any other commitments that demand your time and energy.
It’s better to commit to three manageable sessions a week that you can realistically maintain without turning your entire life upside down. Think about your actual life, not the life you wish you had or think you should have. If you’re not a morning person, don’t plan 6am workouts, or if you are, a morning walk with your dog who loves to run in the woods could be a good idea.
With this advice, you’ll be sure to avoid overcomplicating fitness going forward.
