Having some fun!

Oh, the joy of physical activity!

(It’s possible some people will read that statement and think, “Uh, what?”)

Have you ever heard, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work again a day in your life”? As a personal trainer, I wholeheartedly believe in this philosophy when it relates to physical activity! Loving (or at least looking forward to) an activity makes the likelihood of actually doing it much higher.

(At Fit ‘N’ Well, this is something that comes up all the time! Why spend time pursuing something you dislike when there’s a world of other activities you could be enjoying!)

It’s difficult to build a sustainable physical activity regimen if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing. On the flip side, it can be much easier to implement something into your lifestyle on a regular basis if you actively look forward to doing it. Sometimes there’s a bit of convincing involved where it can also be helpful to focus on the positive aspect of how physical activity makes you feel during and after.

Think of an activity you look forward to doing. What’s your idea of fun? What activities gave you a thrill as a little kid?

(I recently rediscovered riding the trails in the river valley on my mountain bike. ZOOM! So much fun! I forgot how much I love riding my bike, which is funny because I spent A LOT of time doing this as a kid!)

It may be a good idea, whether you’re relatively new to exercise or a regular at your favourite gym, to consider adding some fun activities to your regular roster. (Indoor rock climbing? Biking with your friends? Playing at the playground with your kids?) It’s never too late to try something new!

You may want to research the possibility of joining a recreation league (competitive/non-competitive) where you can get in some physical activity while having fun and meeting some new people with a similar mindset. Although I am a stout believer in the power of consistency in the gym, I’m also an advocate for having some fun while you’re being physically active!

While you may not be able to have fun during all your workout sessions, it is important to take something positive from each session. Give yourself a pat on the back for every improvement, for persevering through your workout, and even for showing up and being physically active! If you focus on the positive feelings generated through exercise, you will be building a positive association with being more active – making you more likely to live an active lifestyle!