"If you really want to do something, you'll find away; if you don't you'll find an excuse." Anon
Excuses, Excuses.
They sabotage our best efforts to start or stay on track with our walking program. So how do we stop the excuses and get moving.
The best place to start is to write down all your excuses for why you can't walk.
Your list could possibly look like this:
- I just don't have time in my day. I'm simply too busy!
- I am so tired, I don't have the energy!
- It's raining.
- I'm too unfit.
- I feel fat.
- The kids need me home.
- I have to do the laundry.
- I work you know!
- I get bored so easily.
- I'm on my feet all day, I do enough exercise!
- I just can't seem to find the motivation.
- It's too dark by the time I come home.
- I just can't commit to a walking program at the moment; I have so much other stuff going on in my life. When things are a little saner around here, I really will start one.
- I hate mornings!
- I will definitely walk tomorrow!
- I think I'm getting a cold! Sniff, sniff
Any of these sound familiar? Look at your list and look at the one above. They are all very valued reasons aren't they...or are they?
Now go back to your list of excuses and pretend it was your best friends list. (By stepping back and viewing them as an outsider you will notice that many of the excuses are merely a Roadblock to 'change') What solutions would you offer?
Here are the 3 ,most commonly used excuses with solutions.
I am so tired, I don't have the energy!
Usually, fatigue and feeling lethargic is your body telling you it needs some attention. Just like the fuel light comes up on your car dashboard before you run out of fuel. Having no energy is your bodies warning light.
View walking as your personal Fuel Pump - every step you take starts filling your tank
It doesn't have to be running around the block at full speed, nor does it have to be a 30 workout, you don't even have to break out in a sweat. All you have to do is lace up your shoes go out for a 10 minute walk. If you start slowly, overtime you will increase your energy levels and you will have more stamina to do the things you love!
I just don't have time in my day. I'm simply too busy!
STOP right there. Maybe this is the time in your life you need a little 'me' time. Whether you can commit to five minutes or forty five minutes, every minute counts! Five, ten, fifteen. thirty minutes in doesn't' matter, every one of those minutes will benefit your health.
Now you need to find those minutes, so review your schedule, see where you can fit it in. Make time, It might only be two walks this week, that's Ok, next week might not be so hectic and you can fit in three! Write your walk in your dairy or on your forehead, make an appointment with yourself.
Once you start walking, you will be astounded and how much more you can fit in your day. Your daily chores will become quicker and you will become more efficient and more productive. Your head will be clearer, allowing you to make better decisions.
I get bored...
Boredom is one the easiest excuses to overcome.
There are many ways to overcome this;
- Join one of walking challenges with attitude see www.walkingwithattitude.com for more information - this is an awesome way of staying motivated whilst walking. It provides you with support and encouragement. It gives you a plan and a goal and its great fun!
- Record your progress - so many people don't do this. We often focus on our destination but forget the journey. Recording your progress is invaluable for motivation. There is nothing more exciting than seeing your progress and how much further or faster you are walking than when you first started, Walkingwithattitude.com was created for this exact purpose.
- Use a pedometer - (step counter that records how far you have walked) , I use my all the time and constantly trying to beat the previous days steps.
- Heart rate monitor - these are great for people who have been walking for a while and want to increase their intensity.
- Interval training - this is an awesome way to increase fitness and adds a real challenge to your walking.
- Intensity Training - not for the faint hearted, a great way to push yourself and increase your fitness. You certainly won't get bored with this one.
- Walking buddy - walk with a friend, family member occasionally
- Vary your walk - If you walk around your neighbour hood, why not head down to the beach occasionally and have coffee afterwards, Walk around the river, visit the country side - variation is the spice of life!
- Don't walk all the time- Remember, its being physically active that is important here and walking is the cheapest and the best place to start. But there are 101 other things you can do to move your body... dancing lessons, tennis, cycle (I often cycle to add variation), golf etc, the list is endless.
Take charge today, No more excuses!
Author
Kate Crosby Co -founder WalkingwithAttitude.com inspiring everyone to walk towards a healthier lifestyle with online walking programs, workplace 10,000 step challenges.
Happy Reading!
