Exercise Tips: Move Your Body - Boost Your Productivity


Do you find yourself setting a New Year's Resolution (every year) to get fit/go to the gym/lose weight/drink more water? If you could answer yes to any of those. I totally understand. I did that too for many years. But I also discovered two weeks into January I had blown my resolution and then would feel guilty for "not achieving my goals". What I discovered was it was more about making movement part of my everyday routine (notice I used the word movement not exercise)! Making little changes in your life can help you make exercise part of your life, rather than something you "have to do"!

Make an appointment. Begin by starting with three thirty-minute exercise sessions per week. Book your exercise times in your diary well in advance. One of the main reasons many people don't exercise is because they think they don't have time ? so book it in and make time. Choose whatever time of day suits you and your daily schedule; for some people it will be the early morning (and it's a wonderful feeling knowing that you've exercised before breakfast and don't have to think about it for the rest of the day!), for others it will be during the day, at lunchtime or after work. No matter what time suits you, make the appointment with yourself.

Recruit a buddy. Find someone you can be accountable to ? they don't necessarily need to exercise with you (but it can be more fun with someone else) as long as you are accountable to reporting your exercise activities to him or her. You might even have a variety of exercise buddies ? one for walking, one for the gym, one for tennis ? whatever works for you. I have a great gym buddy, Simone; we have a laugh, work hard and keep each other inspired.

Distract yourself! Combine your daily exercise with other activities, for example, set up your home gym near your TV and watch the news while you work out, listen to music to keep you moving fast or a motivational CD or audio book to make great use of your time and keep you interested.

Join a gym. If you enjoy group exercise, or simply like having access to great equipment and organised activities, join a gym. Make sure you choose a reputable company, that the facilities are close to your home or work (if it is not convenient you won't use it), that the classes you'd like to do are on at times that suit you and that there is plenty of staff to assist with your questions and techniques. If you've never joined a gym before, don't be intimidated ? most gyms these days offer many forms of exercise (apart from weight lifting high-impact 80s-style aerobics!), including Yoga, Tai Chi, cycle and even walking and in-line skating groups ? there really is something to suit everyone.

Keep it fresh. One of the main reasons people stop exercising is boredom, so vary your exercise rather than just doing to same thing day-in, day-out. On weekends, grab a ball and head to the park, buy a basket ball and play one-on-one with your partner or flat mate, drive to the nearest beach, park or lake and go for a long walk, try skating, do a new gym class that you've never tried before, buy a Yoga DVD, join a soccer club, start a dance class, get some kids (or adults!) together and play tag or other childhood games ?the options are endless, just keep moving and having fun!

Get a personal trainer. If you are having trouble getting motivated on your own (or even with a gym buddy), or if you'd just like someone to help you to establish an exercise program and routine, consider investing in a personal trainer. These specialists are no longer just for the rich and super fit. A personal trainer can help you to kick-start your fitness plan and be a great source of encouragement and accountability. When choosing a personal trainer make sure they are appropriately qualified, that you like him or her and that you trust them to help you achieve your goals.

If they are more interested in talking on their mobile phone or staring at themselves in the mirror while they are training you ? find someone new. Many gyms have personal trainers on staff, and there are also independent trainers who operate out of either their own fitness studios or public gyms. You can also find trainers who won't take you anywhere near a gym if you're not interested in that type of activity ? there are plenty of other ways to get fit!

On a budget? You don't need a lot of money to exercise ? just invest in a good pair of walking shoes and you're ready to go. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise and it's available to everyone regardless of how old you are, what size you are and how much money you have.

Set goals. Keep a list of things you want to achieve through your exercise, it might include physical challenges such as running up the stairs without getting puffed, walking 4km in less than an hour or completing a full gym class without stopping, as well health and self-esteem goals such as losing weight, improving your cardio vascular fitness, fitting into your summer clothes with confidence and so on. Write your goals down and read them daily to remind yourself of the wonderful achievements you are striving for.

Keep track. Encourage yourself by keeping an exercise journal. Record your training sessions and any new milestones you achieve, for example, when you begin you might have poor flexibility and after doing Yoga classes and stretching you find you can reach your toes! Keep track, it's fantastic to have a record of all your hard work and to see how far you've progressed.

Reward yourself. Preferably not with chocolate! Buy yourself a new pair of walking shoes or gym outfit, have a massage or a soak in the tub with candles, music, sweet-smelling oils ? the works! Find ways that are meaningful to you to reward yourself for all of your hard work and dedication.

Neen is a Global Productivity Expert: by looking at how they spend their time and energy ? and where they focus their attention ? Neen helps people to rocket-charge their productivity and performance. A dynamic speaker, author and corporate trainer, Neen demonstrates how boosting your productivity can help you achieve amazing things. With her unique voice, sense of fun and uncommon common-sense, Neen delivers a powerful lesson in productivity. Find out more at http://neenjames.com/







Related News



Nigeria: Lack of Vaccine Stalls Polio Vaccination Exercise - AllAfrica.com

Nigeria: Lack of Vaccine Stalls Polio Vaccination Exercise
AllAfrica.com, Washington -18 hours ago
The much expected polio vaccination exercise due to commence in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been suspended indefinitely due to lack of vaccines, ...

To exercise, just press ‘start’ - Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly (subscription)

To exercise, just press ‘start’
Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly (subscription), IN -6 hours ago
By Terri Hughes-Lazzell Exercise and good health go hand in hand. These days, residents of Concord Village in Fort Wayne are staying active with a little ...

Diet, exercise tied to cancer survivor well-being - Reuters

KVAL

Diet, exercise tied to cancer survivor well-being
Reuters -7 hours ago
... more than 10 million cancer survivors: get at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-strenuous exercise, or an hour of strenuous physical activity every week; ...
Few minutes of exercise could help inactive overweight womenOnline - International News Network
Just 10 Minutes of Daily Exercise Boosts Heart HealthNewsChannel5.com
Exercise when young may cut breast cancerLos Angeles Times
Medical News Today (press release) - HealthJockey.com
all 525 news articles

Lung Cancer Patients Can Tolerate Post-surgery Exercise, And Can ... - Science Daily (press release)

Lung Cancer Patients Can Tolerate Post-surgery Exercise, And Can ...
Science Daily (press release) -9 hours ago
ScienceDaily (May 16, 2008) — Patients who have undergone surgical procedures for the removal of lung cancer can tolerate and benefit from exercise regimens ...

Exercise program prepares firefighters - abc7.com

Exercise program prepares firefighters
abc7.com, CA -2 hours ago
Each exercise is designed to help recruits prepare for what they'll experience on the job. It's the big difference between this program and others, ...

Extra Space Storage Inc. Announces Underwriters' Exercise of Over ... - CNNMoney.com

Extra Space Storage Inc. Announces Underwriters' Exercise of Over ...
CNNMoney.com -4 hours ago
After giving effect to the exercise of the option, the Company will have sold a total of 14950000 shares of common stock in the public offering for net ...
TICC Capital Corp. Announces Transferable Rights Offering; Hosting ...CNNMoney.com
all 7 news articles

Turkey - Bulgaria Joint Military Exercise - Turkish Press

Turkey - Bulgaria Joint Military Exercise
Turkish Press, MI -9 hours ago
KIRKLARELI - Turkish and Bulgarian land forces conducted a military exercise on the border of the two countries from Monday to Thursday. ...
Turkey - Bulgaria Border Squad Exchange Military ExerciseTurkish Press
all 3 news articles

Nintendo set to launch "Wii Fit" exercise game - Reuters

PhysOrg.com

Nintendo set to launch "Wii Fit" exercise game
Reuters -1 hour ago
By Scott Hillis SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - For years, video games have been blamed for turning kids into idle layabouts who only venture off the couch to ...
Nintendo hopes to appeal to exercise enthusiastsCTV.ca
Can You Pass the President's Adult Fitness Test?NPR
Wii Fit review (Wii)Boomtown
DigitalJournal.com - BlueRidgeNow.com
all 137 news articles


Mass exercise class teaches pupils to be healthy - Sleaford Today

Mass exercise class teaches pupils to be healthy
Sleaford Today, UK -7 hours ago
By John Lavery LAST Wednesday, a number of schools in Lincolnshire took part in a national initiative to promote the importance of exercise. ...

A leisurely exercise in love, style - and murder - Boston Globe

Boston Globe

A leisurely exercise in love, style - and murder
Boston Globe, United States -21 hours ago
... of the movie are so good and Pinon and Dana are so striking together (beauty and her pug) that the rest of the film feels like an exercise in style. ...