The Importance of Exercise for a Well-Balanced Life

My husband, Jim, and I love road cycling and over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to ride with many people of all levels and skill sets, from amateur to pro. It’s one of our passions and a great form of exercise and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle.

I recall one warm day in the Hudson Valley of NY; we met a friend after work to go for a ride. As soon as we met, Jim said, “How are you?” She launched into a 20-minute complaint about everything that had gone wrong with her day and, overall, what was wrong with her life.

I remember thinking, “If he had only waited to ask her AFTER our bike ride. He may have gotten a very different response.”

Benefits of Regular Exercise That Go Beyond the Physical

Regular exercise is a great way to improve or maintain physical health. But it also has wonderful mental, emotional and social benefits. It

• can help you release stress after your workday.
• clears your mind midday, allowing you to return to work more focused.
• is a great activity to build relationships with family and friends.
• can even help relieve angst during an emotional time.

According to the Mayo Clinic, regular exercise can help with

1. Weight Loss
2. Combatting health conditions and diseases, including heart disease
3. Improving blood pressure
4. Improving mood
5. Boosting energy
6. Promoting better sleep
7. Putting the spark back into your sex life
8. Adding FUN and socialization to your life!

These are pretty great reasons to make physical activity a daily habit.

How to Create Healthy Habits

Many of us struggle with implementing exercise habits. Obstacles include lack of time, needing accountability, or the simple fact that change is hard. Here are a few tips to overcome these obstacles and add more physical activity to your exercise routines.

1. Start with why. Define your goal and journal your reason for adding exercise to your healthy lifestyle. It could be to release weight, lower your blood pressure, increase your energy, look great for a reunion/holiday/special event, or to reduce the risk of heart disease or other illnesses.
2. Share Your why. When you share your goal and reason for exercising, you allow people to support you and your efforts instead of sabotaging you.
3. Find something you love to do. Consistently exercising is easier for me because I LOVE to ride my bike. To find a form of movement you love, live in your curiosity. Try a local fitness class, join a softball/volleyball/soccer league, take a hike, or try pickleball.
4. Grab a friend. Exercise can be combined with nurturing essential relationships. A family day can include a 5k walk/run for charity or miniature golf; friendships can be centered around a hike or ice skating; even your spiritual life can combine prayer and meditation with a walk in nature.

How To Make Exercising a Healthy Habit When You’re Out Of Shape

Sometimes, getting started is the most challenging part of creating healthy exercise habits. This is where knowing your why, sharing your why, finding something you love to do, and partnering with friends or family members with similar goals for accountability can be assets. If you know you’re meeting a friend at the gym or for a bike ride, you’ll be much less likely to cancel your workout.

How to Start a Workout Routine At Home

Exercise also doesn’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of ways to start an exercise program from the comfort of your own home or neighborhood:

• Walk/hike
• Calisthenics
• Jump rope
• Yoga (guided through a free YouTube video)
• TRX (exercise using your body weight and a TRX apparatus for minimal cost you can take anywhere)
• Join an online fitness class

Five Exercises to Do Everyday

Kaiser Permanente lists more than five simple exercises you can do at home, including:

1. Squats for your legs, stomach, and lower back.

1. Lunges for your upper legs and glutes.

1. Planks for your core, back, and shoulders.

1. Push-ups for your chest, shoulders, triceps, and core.

1. Pull-ups for your biceps, triceps, forearms, wrists, shoulders, and core.

Conclusion: What to Do Next

Exercise may not be part of your daily routine.

Yet.

But you can start an exercise program today and redefine what exercise means to you. Live in your curiosity while you find ways to move your body in ways you enjoy. Discover the time of day that works best for you. And if you are short on time, combine movement and activity with relationships by partnering with a friend or family member to try something new.