How to become active for life?

I think that this is one of the best questions that you can ask yourself. And I would say that this is also one of the main reasons why I started this blog in the beginning. If you manage to achieve being active for life, you will live longer, have more energy, be more positive, happy and healthier in general. Who wouldn’t like to be that person?

Be active in non-workout activities

To mold nutritional and fitness habits for life is so much more than just taking time from your busy schedule to work out regularly and drinking your shake afterward. To develop a habit that will be “easy” to follow on day to day basis you will have to find activities in which you will enjoy.

The important thing with this activity is that it should feel more like fun rather than working out, even though they are as tough or even tougher than your regular fitness workout.

Let say that you like nature, then this can be easy as taking a daily walk or making a habit of taking your family on a weekly trip to the mountains. Running and cycling outside instead on a treadmill and indoor bike or joining your local football or tennis club. Planning your vacation around activities that you and your family enjoy, like kayaking, hiking, kiting, surfing, skiing, skating, etc.   

If you are a person that like to try and develop new skills you can learn to box (my favorite as you develop whole-body coordination plus it is really great stress reliever) or start indoor rock climbing where you will develop amazing body strength and from here you can continue with mountain climbing where you will be able also to enjoy the nature.

The point is that you find something that will get you moving and will be fun for you. If you will enjoy these activities you will think of them as something that you want and are eager to do rather than you have to do. All of a sudden being active gains a new perspective.  

With time you will also find out that your workout is helping you getting vitality and strength which is making your extra activity more fun, making it more likely that you will stay active and consistent all the time.   

Walk, walk and walk again

I see so many people who are overweight, who have problems with joints, who doesn’t have time to exercise but at the same time if it would be possible they would drive in the store to get their grocery.

Start gradually like taking stairs instead of the elevator, park your car on the end of the parking lot (there is always space and lower risk that someone bumps your car) and build up gradually when you will see on yourself all the benefits that walking brings to you. And if this doesn’t work for you then get yourself a dog, some extra motivation which will get you out and walking even when you won’t feel like it.  

For me, there is no better way to clear my mind and organize my thoughts than taking one hour walk after I put my daughter down to bed in the evening.

Have a Goals

Last but not least you must have a Goal. I talked about goals in my first article The beginning because they are super important. Without goal or vision what you want from a workout or your new activity you will soon quit. It is the same in every area of your life, motivation gets you pumped and ready for action but dedication and commitment to your goal will get you all the way even in the days when you don’t feel like it.

If you don’t know how to set a goal, think about why you started or you wish to start working out. Setting your goal is relatively easy and can be simple as getting fit body to attract the opposite sex or to be able to lift 200 pounds on the bench press, to have more energy for your kids, etc.

Pick activity that you always wanted to start or that gets you excited then take the action and start. Like every beginning, it won’t be easy but it will be worth it.

And remember, it will not get easier, you will get stronger and fit!