How to Find a Workout You Truly Enjoy

A fitness regimen is a life long commitment. Engaging in an activity you truly love and look forward to doing ensures it is never a chore or bother, and will provide invaluable results, happiness, and longevity. But it is easier said than done. And over the course of your life, this may look very different than from previous eras or lifestyles.

Why Enjoyment Matters in Fitness

It is human nature to gravitate toward activities we enjoy and avoid activities we don't. Working out is no exception. For example, if you dread the treadmill in your basement, you may begrudgingly use it, sparingly use it, or never touch it. Conversely, if you really enjoy hiking, for example, you will find every opportunity to get out there and move!

Enjoying what you've chosen is the key to staying motivated and consistent. However, you may not yet know what your favorite activity is - and that's OK. Try all different things. Trust the process - something will speak to you! Step out of your comfort zone as well. You may find you enjoy, (and are really good at) something you would have never realized about yourself.

Identify Your Preferences

Honestly answer some key questions to point you in the right direction when you begin:

• Do you prefer a group setting or solo activities?

• Would you like your exercise to have a social component? Or are you a focused, "get it done" personality.

• Would you like to follow along with a video, or download a written program (like a strength program) and do it yourself?

• Would you rather travel somewhere or stay at or around your home to exercise?

• Do you need the structure of the same time each day, or do you trust yourself to get in a workout whenever you have downtime - whenever that is.

• Do you need guidance for your workout (like a Fitness With Erika group fitness class) or would you like to do things on your own?

• Are you an outside person or an inside person?

• Do you consider yourself, "dancy"? Or do you like hard core, no frills, athletic type movements?

• Do you consider yourself adventurous? Or would you prefer a safe, climate controlled environment?

• Would you like a steady state exercise activity (like a long walk), a cardiovascularly challenging activity (Like a hike or a run), or a relaxing activity (like stretching or yoga)

The above aren't necessarily either/or propositions. You may have answered "yes" or "both".

So take those answers to now list your preferences in order so that you have variety and contingencies (See below)

Stay engaged and let others know what you're doing

It is helpful to let those around you know what you're trying to accomplish. This helps them help you stay the course. For example, if your goal is to come home from work and promptly exercise, your family and friends know that time of day is not a feasible dinner time or happy hour and will try not to interfere with that or throw you off your schedule. Or if you want to set your alarm and get an early start to your day with a workout, those around you will begin to respect your bedtime in order to accomplish that.

Have a backup plan and identify more than one preference

Injuries can happen, exercise equipment may not be readily available all the time. Seasons change. Traveling may throw a wrench into your routine.

Be ready to pivot! Ranking your preferences from the list above puts you in the perfect position to keep going no matter what obstacles get thrown your way.

And embrace the change. You may feel a walk is generally not a sufficient workout for you. But if you are on vacation, walk everywhere to enjoy your current surroundings! An entire day of walking around will most certainly count!

You may find swimming in the privacy of your own backyard pool is your primary source of exercise in the summer months, making you an outdoor, solo, do-it-on-your-own exerciser.

But winter months give you a chance to go to indoor fitness classes or sign up for a recreational sports league, making you a social, group based, time & place dependent exerciser.

Keep trying everything! And take these simple steps to navigate your way to a life long commitment of doing something you love. If you love it, it's never work!