One thing you can do for self-care is exercise. Some people don't like "exercise" at all. But it is good for your body and mind. And you really don't need to run a marathon (I hate running, but I looooove dancing). Here are some tips for making it more enjoyable and a habit!
Make it fun
Making exercise enjoyable is critical if you want to stick with it and make it a part of your daily routine. Check out the sports program's offerings. Take a dance lesson, join a student club on fitness or tai chi, or go for a stroll in nature if team sports aren't your thing, or just turn on some music and dance to it!
You should participate in a wide range of physical activities to work with various parts of your body. As a bonus, it keeps you engaged and intrigued. Isn't it possible that you may find a new passion?
Finding a workout buddy may help you remain on track since it's more difficult to cancel on someone else than it is to cancel on oneself. It's also a great way to get in some exercise and social time simultaneously, making it a win-win situation. After all, being social and having a support system around us is also self-love and care towards ourselves.
Making time
Fitting in a workout might be difficult when you have a hectic schedule. As long as you're moving, you're doing something! Remember that even ten-minute walks in between tasks might add up if you don't have time for a 40-minute exercise. Get up half an hour early to get some exercise, you’ll be surprised how good you feel when you do that. Once you have done it and felt the feeling of being alive in the morning, you will want to do it more.
I start my mornings with a 7-minute workout. I still have my eyes closed, slowly wake up, and feel refreshed during my workout. All ready to start my day after those 7 minutes.
Like everything, getting started is the biggest thing.
Plan things
Schedule an appointment, sign up for an online course, or plan to meet with someone to help you keep to your goals.
Setting goals
Setting precise objectives for oneself might also be beneficial. When we know we have something to aim for it can give us the motivation and incentive to get going, and it spurs us on. Don’t set unrealistic goals though. This can have the opposite effect and make us feel that achieving well-being is just too hard and too far out of reach. So start gentle – not too gentle, but start easy and put your goal just slightly out of reach so you can see and feel it’s possible if you just push a little more ☺
Too much of a good thing
You may have too much of a good thing, so don't go overboard! Before exercising, fuel your muscles by drinking water and eating something nutritious (I prefer to eat nothing for my morning workout since that would break my fast. I feel more focused this way, and I can even handle a boxing training of 1,5 hours. However, this is not for everyone, so please talk to an expert before starting this way).
Don't push yourself too hard while you're just starting. Exercising too much, particularly if you're not receiving proper nourishment, may put a strain on your body. I eat over 500 grams of vegetables a day, so even if I don't eat during my workout, my body is already filled with nutritious food over a longer period of time.
And here again, this might put you off continuing if you associate pain with gain like so many say.
Of course, you do need to put in some effort, but it shouldn’t be so painful and hard that it prevents you from either mentally or physically moving ahead.
Above all – get started!
Choose fun things and sensible goals with sensible time frames and don’t forget to rest correctly and refuel. This is self-care too!
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