As I write this, I am aware that another post on this site is on looking for positives, even when life is looking down for you. As a Physical Education teacher, I have been bombarded with information on the benefits of exercise and feeling positive. This is a topic often covered by psychologists. Many would know that exercise releases chemicals called endorphins and serotonin that work to improve your mood. These chemicals can also help with feeling like you are better equipped to tackle the tricky things in life.
Despite the strong knowledge we all have on the benefits of exercise, we often crash out when we are tired or stressed when we would probably benefit from some exercise. The key importance here is to make sure we maintain an awareness of our need to exercise and plan it into our lives.
Unless you are a gym junkie, exercise can be hard to maintain, so here are a few tips and ideas you may wish to use to aid you in exercising.
Key number one for me over many years is to find an exercise partner who is interested in similar exercise routines as you are. This could be a gym partner or a walking buddy. Partners are great for encouragement as well as a way to keep you accountable for exercising. It’s also a great way to catch up with a mate.
Start small. Don’t expect to run that 10km on your first day. Go for one or two and realise that you will ramp up the km quickly as you keep on with your exercise. You will notice a massive gain in strength, stamina and aerobic fitness in the first 6 weeks of training.
If you are young, exercising every day might be a great thing for you, but as you get older, keep in mind that you can possibly overdo it creating injuries and strains (This is coming from an old man) Work to your age and ability.
If you are in need of encouragement and can’t find a partner, join a class online or in a gym. This is a great way to meet people who are travelling the same journey as you are. You can also get some professional advice on techniques of your chosen exercise.
Put your training in your daily calendar. You might have to get up a bit earlier to fit it in, you could even try early starts purely to exercise and start the day fresh.
Take a break sometimes. A week or two off never hurt anyone! In fact it can be a time to heal and rethink what you are doing.
Recognise your achievements. Record what you have done each session and watch for improved times in runs, extra kilometres you have covered without stopping or how much more weight you may be pushing in the gym. Celebrate your achievements!
Vary your exercise. If you are bored with your gym workout, change your routine. If you are doing squats, have a go at lunges or the exercise bike. If bench press with a barbell is getting to you, use dumbbells. Change is as good as a holiday.
Try to work all areas of your body, legs, torso and abs as well as chest and arms. Include aerobic workouts to improve your cardiovascular endurance.
Remember the key is to keep moving so as you age you maintain the strength to do the things you really love. 1 Corinthians 6:19 shares that our body is our temple. God’s wish for us is to lead as healthy a life as we can. If you’re able to add a little care to God’s temple, why not add that exercise routine to your daily or weekly plan. Especially important in COVID-19 times where many of us are running at a higher stress level that ever before.
Ed Moroni — Secondary Coordinator