I hate to exercise. I mean really hate to exercise, but my doctor says I need to exercise. He lists a dozen health benefits. It helps avoid heart disease and diabetes, controls weight and high blood pressure, improves sleep and muscle strength, prevents bone loss, boosts energy, and more.
I don't believe the "boosts energy" part. Exercise makes me tired and sweaty, and I don't like either. Exercise feels like too much work. I have enough to do every day. I'm tired when I get home and just want to rest in my favorite chair, not exercise. Getting up early to exercise isn't an option for me either, I'm always tired in the morning.
So what do I do? The doc says I need to exercise to improve my health. I don't like to exercise. The benefits all sound great. But how much exercise does it take to get those benefits?
I decided the only way to start would be to "trick" myself into exercising. From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., I set a little timer for 55 minutes. When it goes off, I get up and walk around for 5 minutes. Then I reset the timer for another 55 minutes.
When I'm shopping, I park further away from the store so I get in a few more steps. Instead of taking the elevator to the third floor at work, I walk the first flight of stairs before catching the elevator. I sit further forward at public events instead of searching for a close seat near the back row.
Surprise! In three months, I lost five pounds. I actually feel more energy too. Who would have believed it? Not me, but now I do. Maybe I'll set that timer for a 10-minute walk, or walk around the neighborhood after supper. I wonder if anyone in my family would walk with me? Maybe I'll make a new walking friend in the neighborhood.
Try some of the ways I "tricked" myself into starting to exercise and see what it does for you.
J.R. Chrystie and her husband live in Missouri. J.R. enjoys writing; and has published more than 800 pieces in magazines, newspapers and other publications.
