Breaking Down Barriers to Exercise

Often times you may feel motivated to exercise, driven by a surge of energy and enthusiasm, while other times you just cannot figure out why you couldn't even muster the willpower to lace up your sneakers, even if you tried your hardest to convince yourself to do so.

We recently reviewed one article that is truly eye-opening and sheds light on the complexities of exercise motivation and the various factors that play a role in it.

Research suggests that understanding these factors can be crucial for anyone looking to maintain a consistent exercise routine.

Time is identified as the most common barrier to exercise across multiple populations, which is a significant finding in the realm of health and fitness.

Typically, this barrier is mainly due to family responsibilities and the myriad of obligations that come with managing a household, such as taking care of children, supporting a partner, or even tending to elderly parents.

Practically speaking, this makes a lot of sense; you may have a family to care for or, more commonly, you may feel the innate desire to prioritize the needs of others before your own, leaving little to no time for personal fitness pursuits.

Furthermore, psychological barriers are also known to significantly impact an individual's lack of physical activity or exercise engagement.

This can manifest in various forms, including feelings of chronic tiredness, a perceived lack of self-discipline or motivation, or even a general lack of enjoyment in physical activities that once brought joy.

This also makes a lot of sense when you consider that sometimes, after a long and exhausting day filled with responsibilities and stressors, the last thing you want to do is to engage in physically demanding activities.

However, a potential solution to these challenges is twofold:

a) your workouts do not have to be confined to the end of the day when you are already fatigued, and

b) consider finding a gym that is conveniently located close by or on your commute to and from work so that it seamlessly fits into your daily routine.

Why do we bring this up? Because we genuinely care about your well-being and want to support you in overcoming these barriers.

Recently, researchers found that pairing your exercises with another activity can save you up to 36% of your time, which is a remarkable insight that could revolutionize how you approach your fitness routine!

For a more detailed explanation, you can watch the full video of Chris explaining that study below

We look forward to continuing to witness your progress and supporting you every step of the way as you navigate your fitness journey.

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