Maintaining Good Exercise Habits: A Guide to Staying Active and Healthy

As physios, we are often asked about ways to maintain an active lifestyle by our patients. Likewise, we are very used to helping patients overcome barriers to doing exercise, including their rehab exercises. Regular exercise is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle, offering numerous physical and mental benefits. However, maintaining a consistent exercise routine can be challenging! Life's demands, lack of motivation, and other obstacles often get in the way.

So why is it important to maintain good exercise habits in this day and age?

We are all aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy weight to help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Likewise, certain exercise can strengthen bones and muscles. It also clearly improves cardiovascular health and can boost your immune system.

But alongside our physical health, we are all becoming more aware of the benefits of exercise on our mental health. Recent research has shown regular exercise can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function.  Mental health professionals actively encourage their patients to do exercise because physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters.

There is more evidence out there showing that regular physical activity can improve your endurance and muscle strength, giving you more energy throughout the day. Exercise also helps improve sleep quality, which contributes to overall energy levels. We also know that consistent exercise is associated with a longer lifespan. Staying active can help you age more gracefully by maintaining mobility and independence in later years.

So how can we better maintain good exercise habits?

One of the best ways to do this is to set yourself a realistic personal goal. This will keep you motivated and will help you track your progress.  Try to get in to a routine with it. Schedule it in to your day in the same way you would an appointment at the doctors. Being consistent will help form lasting habits. Choose an activity you enjoy as you’ll be more likely to stick with it. If you hate running, don’t try to push yourself to do this. Instead do something you know you’ll enjoy such as dancing or swimming. Try to mix it up - vary the activities you are doing to challenge yourself and stop it from getting boring. If you are social try to find yourself a work out buddy, or join a fitness group to make it more fun. Doing exercise with others will also motivate you to show up and push yourself. 

 We can use technology to assist. With numerous fitness apps now available, and most smart phones having fitness trackers, it is a great way to monitor our progress. Seeing how far you’ve come can really boost your motivation and confidence, even more so when you are starting out on your fitness journey. Celebrate small victories and don't be too hard on yourself if you miss a workout. Maintaining a positive mindset can help you stay motivated and committed. As we hurtle towards the colder, darker months of the UK winter consider other options for exercise, particularly at home workouts even if you don’t have any fitness kit.

But it is  important to listen to your body. Rest and recovery are crucial for preventing injuries and allowing your muscles to repair and grow. If you feel pain or excessive fatigue, take a break and consult a fantastic physio if necessary!   

To sum it up, maintaining good exercise habits is essential for living a healthy, balanced life. By setting realistic goals, creating a routine, choosing enjoyable activities, and staying positive, you can build a sustainable exercise habit that will benefit your physical and mental well-being. Remember, the journey to fitness is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay patient, stay consistent, and most importantly, enjoy the process!