The key to exercise is to do something you like

People realize that exercise is good for your health, but I think that we sometimes tend to look at exercise like a chore that exists outside of what we consider to be the things that we like to do, or the time that we like to call our own. I have always been able to keep up some type of regular exercise routine, and when I see others that can’t, I immediately recognize where the difference lies: I like the forms of exercise that I choose to engage in, and they don’t.

So the key is to find some form of exercise that you really like to do and you will look forward to it and develop a good habit that helps to keep you fit. Since I love the great outdoors, sunshine, and fresh air, and I care about my health, taking long hikes in nature with my dog is an ideal way for me to get my exercise while taking care of my dog at the same time. Perhaps this isn’t your cup of tea, but surely there is some type of exercise that you would like to do, be it playing a game of basketball, cycling, playing tennis, or any other sport that you may have enjoyed at some point in your life.

I was swimming every day for a few months when I had a sore knee, and I enjoyed that too. But I do not like all forms of exercise, so I wouldn’t be successful at maintaining a regular exercise pattern if I didn’t do things that I like. If I had a treadmill, it would gather dust, because I don’t like walking on a treadmill.

If you learn to enjoy your exercise without separating the practice from the routine of your day, it becomes a highlight that you don’t want to miss rather than a chore that will inevitably fall by the wayside.