Psyching yourself out of exercise: How to prevent barriers from taking over your health.

Here are some barriers I have had and ways to overcome them.

Top 5 excuses:

• “I’m too tired to exercise.”

  It’s 5 PM after a long day after work or it’s 7 AM, I want to sleep in a little more because I’ll be tired.

• “I’m too busy and I don’t have time for exercise.”

  Exercise simply takes too long.

• “I have a bad back, knee, etc.”

  I can’t stress my body out more or I’ll be injured again.

• “I just don’t like to exercise.”

  It’s no fun.

• “The weather is bad; it’s too hot, too cold, or too rainy.”

  It’s perfect to stay home with a blanket and hot chocolate.

• “I don’t have money to join a gym or have a personal trainer.”

  Gyms are too expensive. Can’t exercise!

Top 5 solutions:

• Inch by Inch is a cinch, yard by yard is hard.

  Starting out slow is the key. 15 minutes of exercise daily is better than a 1 hour exercise a week. Regular exercise actually increases your energy and improves sleep.

• Make exercise a natural part of your day.

  Exercise can happen naturally without thinking. For example, I try to park a car farther away from my destination. I take the stairs instead of the elevator and take a walk break during work. Instead of sitting and watching TV, I dance, lift weights and ride the stationary bike.

• Make exercise a social event.

  It can be refreshing to walk by the beach or hike in the mountains and then have a picnic.

• No need for rigorous Navy Seal training (unless you want to be a Navy Seal)

  Find less strenuous types of exercise. For example instead of running, it is less stressful on your knees to bike or swim.

• Have fun!

  Find a sport or exercise regimen that fits you! For me, my regimen primarily revolves around climbing stairs instead of using the elevator, riding the stationary bike 15 minutes a day, singing, and playing golf.

For more related blogs:

Exercise plan that has worked for me

10 ways to lose weight