How to Exercise the Right Way for You

Identify your goals

Everyone loves a bit of goal setting, whether those goals exist silently in your head, publicly on social media, or privately in a notebook you bought during a new-year motivation spree. Defining specific goals can provide great focus—as long as you’re being realistic. It’s about focusing on what you can do right now rather than setting a lofty goal like running a marathon or exercising every single day. It’s important to have an end goal to strive for, but many people struggle by choosing something they want but may not have time for, depending on their life stage.

Time is one of the biggest barriers to exercise. Many people feel they’re too busy or have other commitments that make it difficult to fit in regular movement. However, even those who exercise multiple times a week have busy lives—they’ve simply found a way to make it non-negotiable. Self-care isn’t selfish!

Perhaps initially it’s a case of increasing your step count by an average of 1,000 a week, making a monthly date to parkwalk with the family, or cycling to work once a week. When you hit those first realistic goals, you’ll feel motivated for more.

Perhaps initially it’s a case of increasing your step count by an average of 1,000 a week, making a monthly date to parkwalk with the family, or cycling to work once a week. When you hit those first realistic goals, you’ll feel motivated for more.

It’s also worth considering your why: you know you want to be more active, but is it because you’re looking to build strength, improve endurance, manage stress, or simply feel fitter? Once you’ve figured that out, it will help you narrow down your options and form a realistic plan.