Did you know that people tend to exercise less in the winter months? Is this true for you? Spring is here and the increasingly warm weather may be just the thing to help you to start a new habit: regular exercise.

How many of us have…

…joined a gym, thinking the monthly fee will motivate us to exercise regularly? 

…decided to exercise every day for an hour but never seemed to get around to doing it?

…decided the reason we aren’t exercising is because we are lazy or unmotivated or too busy? 

Perhaps the reason for our lack of success has more to do with human nature than motivation or get-up-and-go. What if we look at getting more exercise as creating a new habit?

There has been a lot of research recently about habits: how powerful they are, how to break bad ones and start good ones. So, what is a habit? For our discussion, let’s define habit as an action required through repetition. Actions we consistently repeat become habits. If we exercise consistently, it will become a habitual part of our daily life. 

Sounds simple. 

But if it’s so simple, why is it so hard? Let’s look at some potential obstacles.

For one, we tend to create exercise goals without considering whether the goals are achievable. Or we may choose exercise based on what we’ve read about what doctors say we should be doing. We don’t consider our likes, dislikes, and the real constraints of daily life. For example, clients often come to me for help going to the gym more frequently. Yet when I ask them if they like the gym, they respond, “I hate going to the gym.” or “I hate to exercise.” Similarly, someone may decide to exercise every morning before work yet hate getting up early. It’s not hard to see both approaches heading toward failure. 

So, just for now, put aside what you’ve read or what you’ve always thought you should be doing with regard to exercise. Instead, as a first step, spend a few weeks observing yourself and making a list of what types of exercise you like. Be honest with yourself about what you enjoy and don’t enjoy. What time of day do you feel energized? When in your daily schedule are you most likely to consistently have time to exercise? How much time can you realistically spend exercising? Where do you like to exercise? If you prefer exercising at home, where in your house or apartment are you most comfortable? 

Each aspect you list should be true and aligned with your nature. Be relentlessly honest with yourself and fully accept who you are. 

Remember that the only exercise that works is the exercise you will actually do! All the “best exercise” information in the world won’t help you if you won’t do it. I once had a client who was honest enough to state she was only willing to exercise during the commercials when she watched the nightly news. I gave her an exercise program that matched her willingness and she did her exercises every night. 

It’s unlikely you will consistently exercise if you don’t enjoy it or can’t get to it because it doesn’t align with your daily rhythms or busy lifestyle. If you hate the gym but love walking in your neighborhood, take walks in your neighborhood. If you like lifting weights but don’t have more than 10 minutes per day to exercise, lift weights for 10 minutes. Try it!