For most of us, it may already be a challenge to have any kind of exercise routine – not to mention stick with a consistent workout schedule! Between family, work, traveling or vacationing, life can occasionally make it difficult to maintain our ideal workout program.

Nonetheless, exercise should ALWAYS be a priority for physical, mental and spiritual health. It is a natural stress reliever, energy provider, calorie burner and meditation tool. If you see that you are frequently talking yourself out of your exercise routine that you worked so difficult to build, it may be time to do some self-evaluation.

Assessing Your Aerobic Exercise Routine

Boredom, over-exertion, negative thought patterns, stress and poor eating habits are just a few common factors that may lead to self-sabotage. However, they are not the end of the world and exercise is something you can always do as long as you are able-bodied.

Remember that you're human and we all experience emotional good and the bad. If you miss a week of workouts, don't hold a grudge. Move on and get back on track! Be patient with yourself and pay attention to your habits and thought patterns so that you can learn more about yourself and how to proceed the madness!

Change it Up!

Boredom frequently encourages us to struggle. After four to six weeks of a consistent routine, it is necessary to change the type of exercise you are doing. For instance, if you have been walking for 30 minutes around your neighborhood five days per week for the last six weeks, your body has likely adjusted to this workload and is no longer improving its cardiovascular health and muscle strength (only maintaining its current state). Switch up! Increase your intensity by jogging short intervals or run/walk on the new trail. Ride a bicycle instead of walking or frolic in the water.

Switching up your routine is crucial for mental health too. Adapting to a fresh routine forces your brain to create new neurological pathways and enhances nerve receptors. Otherwise, the body will shut down nerve pathways that aren't being used. Take a new way home, consider using a new exercise or change-up the scenery for any natural mood enhancer.

Think Positive!

When you appear in the mirror, what are your thoughts? How do you describe or discuss yourself to other people? Negative thoughts possess the power to break down your work ethic and foster self-sabotage. There isn't any other enemy in this case but ourselves. Ditch the mental poison and stay focused on your goals. Allow your body to build strength and have self-compassion for all the hard work you are doing. Being active is a long-term commitment that will not yield results overnight. Have patience with yourself and learn to love and accept your body.

What habits are consistently coming up as excuses not to continue your progress? Which of these can you drop? These are questions to ask yourself. It would be easy to list all of the negative effects of not exercising, but let’s concentrate on the positive! Why would you stop? You can only benefit by exercising. Concentrate on the way you feel after your workout and the benefits of moving forward. Move, be creative and love yourself the whole way.

About the Author:
Working within the health field for several years, Laurel Dierking, MEd, NFPT, is passionate about cultivating body, mind and spirit awareness through holistic health practices. Like a Health and Fitness Professional and yoga instructor, Laurel strives to guide individuals on a path to self-awareness, long-term functional fitness and weight loss.