5 ways to stop hating exercise
Ah, exercise. The bitchy cousin of dieting. Does the very word just fill you with dread? We’ve come up with all kinds of clever phrases to trick ourselves into doing it -- joyful movement, anyone? -- but the fact is that this is still the one area of self-care and overall wellness that every single one of my clients has struggled with.
We’ve tortured ourselves, injured ourselves, and abused ourselves with exercise. We associate it with pain, stress, and vulnerability. We don’t have comfortable clothes to do it in, we constantly compare ourselves with others at the gym, and we don’t want people watching us get all red and sweaty. For many women, exercise is just painful.
I used to torture myself with running. I actually DID enjoy it, but of course I sucked all the joy out of it by forcing myself to do it even when I didn’t want to, always pushing myself to go farther than I felt I could, and running through multiple injuries so I was always in pain. One time when I was “scheduled” for a 5-mile run after work, I put all my gear, laced up my shoes, and sat outside and cried for 20 minutes because I DIDN’T WANT TO RUN so incredibly badly.
I have definitely swung back and forth on the exercise pendulum like so many of us do. Either forcing myself to do it every day and getting all maniacal about it, or never even thinking about it for months at a time, unable to stomach the thought of doing anything even remotely active.
I’m happy to say that I’ve finally found the happy medium, and I know many other women have, as well. I absolutely look forward to ‘joyful movement’ now, and really miss it on days when I can’t work it in my schedule. Even if this seems ridiculous to you right now, I promise you it’s possible. Here are 5 quick tips to stop hating exercise so much.
1.Give yourself permission to not do it.
Are you stuck in the “I know I should, but I really don’t want to” debate every day? Yeah, exercise is good for you and almost everyone agrees that you *should* do it, but you don’t have to. If the inner rebel in you is rejecting the very idea of it, let it go. Fuck it. Give yourself as much time as you need to just NOT DO IT and have that be TOTALLY OK. It’s up to you, and you get to decide. If you don’t want to, don’t. You might be amazed at how liberating this is, and how much ditching the “should” lets you consider the “could.”
2. Associate it with a positive experience, rather than a particular outcome.
How can you enjoy it? Rather than focusing on heart-rate or muscle-size or calorie-burning, see if you can find a way to look forward to it. Can you bird-watch while you walk, or read while you ride the stationary bike, or listen to a podcast while you do yoga? Find a way to make it actually fun for you.
3. Focus on benefits not related to weight or body size.
Did you know that simple walking (or any activity where opposing sides of the body to work together -- left arm with right foot, and vice versa -- like swimming, running, or those crunch-thingies where you touch your left elbow to your right knee) strengthens the communication between the right and left hemispheres of your brain? It actually organizes your neurological system, and leads to clearer thinking, better coordination, and a stronger mind-body connection. It’s no coincidence that I often rush back from a walk to jot down a great idea or write something important in my journal. I also know that exercise is a really important part of my stress-management routine, as well as my primary spiritual time.
4. Do it for whatever amount of time & whatever exertion level you feel like that day.
I used to think exercise didn’t “count” unless I got my heart rate up to a certain number, or covered a minimum distance, or spent at least 40 minutes doing it. This is old diet-related bullshit. Do whatever your body feels like doing that day for as long as it’s enjoyable. Sometimes I do a 40-minute fast walk where I sweat and get my blood pumping, but many other days it’s a 10 minute stroll. It all counts, it’s all beneficial, and your body does not need or want the same level of exertion every single day. Just relax and do what feels right.
5. Create a post-workout ritual that you love.
I really love coming back from a walk and sitting outside for a little while to do some tapping, and then making myself a hot lemon water. Listen...I know it’s not that exciting, but it makes me feel good. I DO look forward to it. What could you do when you’re finished with a workout or walk that you would really enjoy? Not exactly a bribe, but just something you would be able to look forward to afterward to make the whole experience that much more pleasant. Maybe a whipped coffee? A Netflix show? A meditation video on YouTube? A bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on buttery toast? Create a pleasurable experience for yourself, and let exercise be part of the fun.
