AD| Despite your commitment to exercise in the past, events in your life may have taken you off track (perhaps even literally) and caused you to stop. It could be because of family commitments, work demands, or something else besides. It might be that you grew tired of exercising too, especially if you pushed yourself too hard during your fitness sessions.

But whatever the reason for a long break, it’s important to get back into some kind of exercise routine. As soon as you get started, you will improve your health and fitness, and hopefully, gain some enjoyment from what you’re doing too. 

Here are our tips for exercising after a long break.

#1: Take it easy when you begin

Your body may be a little out of shape and like your mindset, it will have fallen out of the habit of exercising. It will need some time to adapt so don’t do anything to push yourself too hard. You run the risk of an injury if you do, so take it slow and focus on low-intensity exercises before committing to anything too intense. Walking. light jogging, gentle cycle rides, and a few laps in the swimming pool are the places to start before you take on anything more demanding. Be sure to limit your time too. Long workouts are not recommended when you’re getting back into the swing of things so exercise for between 10-20 minutes unless you feel capable of doing more. 

#2: Take time out to recover

You will probably experience a little bit of soreness after resuming exercise so don’t forget the recovery period. This is something you may have focussed on when you were regularly exercising anyway, but it’s doubly important to concentrate on it now. Arm yourself with heat pads, ice packs, CBD Patches, and anything else that is proven to relieve pain. And enjoy a nice warm bath too, especially one with Epsom salts, as this is another way to soothe your body if it is aching. 

#3: Find ways to motivate yourself

If motivation was your reason for giving up exercise, you don’t want to fall into the same trap again. So, do what you can to motivate yourself. You might want to find yourself an exercise buddy, for example, as they could be a great encourager to you if you feel like calling it quits. Or you could remember the ‘why’ behind your need to exercise, such as your health, the need to lose weight or to set a good example to the lazier members of your family. Here are some other ideas for exercise motivation. 

#4: Create a schedule

Getting back into exercise won’t be easy, and it will be even harder if there is anything to distract you. So, considering the reasons why you may have given up previously, work out a time that will work better for you. It might be when the kids are at school, for example, or when you don’t have the pressures of work to think about. Find your window and then schedule your exercise routine during this time each day. 

When exercise is a part of your daily life again, you will improve your health and fitness levels again in no time. But to ensure you don’t lapse again, consider our suggestions, and do anything else that will keep you on the right track for your fitness goals.