How to stay active every day

One way you can make exercise a part of your life is to set the right goals. Goals have a great influence on your actions and your motivation.

For most people, increasing physical activity is a big challenge. That’s why it can be difficult to succeed right away. If you feel the same way, setting specific, measurable goals can help you steer your behavior in a more positive direction.

Be as specific as possible about your goals

Set more specific goals. This will help you actually achieve them. General goals such as “I want to exercise more in my daily life” are too vague. Try setting more specific, measurable goals. For example, one of your goals could be: “I want to go for a 30-minute walk every day for the next week. No matter the weather!” Ideally, you should also set an exact time of day and an alarm to encourage you to go.

Set yourself goals that are not too easy but not too hard

It’s very important that you set appropriate goals for yourself. They should not be too strenuous but not too easy either.

Check the goals you have set carefully. Ask yourself if they are suitable and feasible for you. If they are, great! Knowing you can achieve them with your own skills and motivation will make it easier to begin!

Plan for obstacles

Life has its surprises. Although it’s hard to plan for them in advance, you should be aware that there will be breaks in training. Maybe because of an unplanned stay in the hospital or because you are temporarily unwell. It’s important to have a plan B for these situations. You can try a less strenuous training programme during times like these.

Author: Susanne  Schwengler, B.Sc.| Reviewer: Dr. Christian Keinki

Sources:

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