We all know about the benefits of regular exercise, yet many of us still struggle to make it a habit. Several theories exist to explain why so many people find it challenging, some of which include:
Finding time: With so much going on, there doesn’t seem to be time to fit exercise into our daily lives. It’s also easy to procrastinate if you’re tired or have had a long day.
Having unrealistic expectations: Many people begin their exercise journeys expecting to see quick results and have fun every time. In truth, exercise habits should persist regardless of whether we’re in the mood or see any significant changes in body composition. We often start strong but become bored or demoralized when we don’t see the expected results.
Falling back on previous habits: Once something is a habit, whether it’s good or bad, it’s challenging to break. While creating new habits, it’s easy to fall back on the old ones. For example, if a previous habit was to stay in bed for an extra half hour every morning and drink coffee, it could be easy to fall back into that pattern on cold or windy days.
Giving in to perfectionism: “All or nothing thinking” can be a significant challenge. We set a goal to exercise daily, and if we miss even one workout, we’ve failed. This thinking is demoralizing and quickly paves the way back into a sedentary lifestyle.