2. Go out and play a game of tag with your kids. Making exercise a family activity turns it into fun that you share with them. Besides being good for your body, you’re instilling good habits in them, and creating happy memories that will stay with them for life.
3. Go swimming. An annual membership is fairly inexpensive, Swimming is great exercise - it’s aerobic, low stress on your joints, and a lot of fun!
4. Join an exercise class. You can turn exercise into a social activity by becoming part of a class. Besides making friends, you’re more likely to exercise if you’re paying for it.
5. Get an exercise buddy. It’s partly the same principle as joining a class - turn exercise into a social activity. In addition to that, making a commitment to a friend for a daily exercise date will make it far more likely that you’ll stick to it.
6. Play ball! Seriously. If your company has a sports team (basketball), join up. Or join a bowling league, volleyball team or other sports group that practices and plays regularly.
7. Go for a bike ride. Even leisurely bike-riding burns calories and exercises muscles that don’t get used in regular walking. No need for an exercise ‘routine’ - just ride your bike to the store, or back and forth to work each day.
8. Take up a new active hobby. Would you believe that gardening is exercise? Bending and stretching and digging and weeding - half an hour of energetic work in your garden burns more calories than a brisk walk.
9. Challenge yourself. If you’re the kind of person who thrives on competition, challenge yourself to meet a new goal each week. Walk one more block. Do six more sit-ups. Take the stairs each day instead of the elevator. Goal-setting to meet challenges is a great way to commit to exercise.
