With an average of only 65.5% of men and 54% women meeting the recommended physical activity levels in 2015 (1), it is important that more people are given the knowledge and support they need to make physical activity a healthy yet enjoyable part of life.
The Department of Health recommends that adults should aim to be active daily and complete 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity over a week, which is the equivalent of 30 minutes five times a week (2).
Where Do I Start?
There are a few points worth thinking about once you have decided you want to be more physically active. Apart from improving you physical and mental wellbeing, what else do you want to get out of being active?
Ask yourself:
- Whether you would prefer being indoors or outdoors
- Doing a group or individual activity
- Trying a new sport
If sports puts you off or you feel uninspired at the thought of limiting yourself to just one activity, think outside the box. Going for a walk, doing housework and gardening are all physical activities. Another factor to consider is if you would you rather do the activity on your own or with a friend. Social support is a great motivator, and sharing experiences, goals and achievements will help you to keep focus and enthusiasm.
Overcoming Barriers
It can be scary making changes to your life and nerve-racking when trying something new. Some common barriers can hinder people from getting started. Such as:
- Cost
- Injury
- Illness
- Lack of energy
- Fear or failure
- Weather
However, practical and emotional support from friends, family and experts really does help.
Another barrier for people participating in physical activity is body image (3). People who are anxious about their body will look to others while they are exercising and as a result may avoid exercise. One way for women to overcome this is perhaps attending a female-only exercises class, or a ladies-only swimming sessions which may help to initially start to exercise.
Exercising with a friend can help reduce anxiety about how your body looks to others and may be helpful during the first few sessions. The environment will influence how you will feel – gyms with mirrored walls, exercising near a window or other space where you may feel ‘on show’ may heighten anxiety.
Make Time and Make It Part of Your Daily Life
Look at your current schedule and decide what time you have available for exercise. Think about whether you have to rejig commitments to make room for extra activities. You will need to choose something that fits into your busy schedule.
Share your intentions of your active lifestyle with your friends and family if you need support from them. Think about whether your chosen activity, will it have an impact on others in your life, what is the predicted cost and if necessary what can be done to make it affordable.
Think about what activity would suit you best. Would you prefer to be active at home, outdoors, indoors or an environment with a change of scenery?
If participating in physical activity is new to you, start slowly and build up your ability gradually. Shift your focus on task goals such as improving your stamina or a specific sport skill or developing strength. Keep a record of your activity and review it on a monthly basis to provide feedback on your progress. There are plenty of apps on that can help you with this.
Goals
It’s really important to set some goals which help you measure your progress and may also help to motivate you.
Remember, you won’t see improvement from physical conditioning each day. Making the regular commitment to doing physical activity is an achievement in itself.
At Home
There are lots of activities you can do whilst in the comfort of your home which involve minimal cost. It can be as simple as speeding up the housework or doing an exercise DVD in your living room or a YouTube workout.
At Work
Whether you’re on your feet, sat at a desk or sat behind the wheel during your working hours, there are many ways you can get more active. Try using the stairs for journeys fewer than 4 floors, walking or cycling a slightly longer route home, getting off a stop earlier and walking home, or using your lunch hour to take a brisk walk, join an exercise class or go for a swim. The change of scenery will do you good too.
Out and About
Your activity levels can be boosted whilst being outdoors. Research suggests that doing physical activity in an outdoor ‘green’ environment has greater positive effects on wellbeing compared to physical activity indoors. Making small changes from leaving the car at home for short journeys or getting off one or two bust stops earlier, to high-intensity activities like joining in with children’s football game or jogging with the dog, can help to boost your mood.
References
(1) Health and Social Care Information Centre (2015). Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet. England 2015. Available at http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB16988/obes-phys-acti-diet-eng-2015.pdf
(2) Department of Health (2011). “UK physical activity guidelines” Available at https://www.gov.uk/government /publications/uk-physical-activity-guidelines
(3) Brudzynski and Ebben (2010). Body Image as a Motivator and Barrier to Exercise Participation. Int J Exerc Sci. 3(1), p14-24.