How To Start Exercising Again After Taking A Long Break
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

8 Tips For Getting Back Into The Routine Of Exercising

How to start exercising after a long break.

1047
8 Tips For Getting Back Into The Routine Of Exercising

Exercising is one of the most popular things to do during the summer. With being able to do more outdoor activities involved with exercises such as riding a bike, jogging, or swimming you would think that it would be easy to start during the summer.

However, if you're like me and love to exercise but have barely any time to go to the gym during the semester, you probably are likely struggling to find the motivation during the summer. And if you have a summer job, it can be extremely hard to find a day when you have enough energy to exercise. However, there are a few ways that you can help yourself get back into the routine of exercising regularly.

Here are eight tips that you can use to ease yourself into exercising regularly over the summer!

1. Start Small Than Gradually Build Up

Exercise

Bruno Nascimento / Unsplash

If you are coming back from a break from exercising, you'll need to start with a small exercise routine. You won't want to start lifting heavy weights or doing a hard core workout the first day back. Instead, start with something light such as walking or swimming. Remember that you haven't exercised in a long time so you're not going to be in the same shape you were before exercising.

2. Don't Overdo It

Exercise

John Arano / Unsplash

As mentioned before, you should never try to overdo it with exercising. It's good to push yourself sometimes but you should never try to push yourself too hard. Overdoing it can take the fun out of exercising by leaving you feeling sore and it can discourage you from wanting to continue exercising.

3. Set Realistic Goals

Goals

Estée Janssens / Unsplash

Another thing that a lot of people often do wrong is making unrealistic exercise goals. Make sure that when you are making goals for yourself that they're something that you can achieve. Don't make goals such as doing 100 push-ups every day when you haven't done a push up since the beginning of the year. Instead, make a goal that's small but achievable such as spending 30 minutes each day on the treadmill.

Also, don't make a goal that's too vague such as trying to lose weight. Instead, set a performance related goals such as running on the treadmill at a certain speed for a number of minutes.

4. Try Different Exercise Routines

Jogging

Stage 7 Photography / Unsplash

Instead of just going for a morning walk or going to the gym everyday, try different routines! If you enjoy swimming then set days where you exercise through swimming or try riding a bike. The nice part about summer is that there are so many different ways that you can exercise that can beat going to the gym everyday!

5. If You're Busy, Make A Workout Schedule

Exercise

Inspired Horizons Digital Marketing / Unsplash

If you feel like you're too busy during the summer, try setting aside time to exercise. For example, if you're going to work, try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or if you're driving to work, park further from the building so you can walk more. You can also try carrying a planner and marking time for when you can exercise. You don't need to spend hours working out but spending as much as 30 to 45 minutes a day can help you.

6. Find Someone To Workout With

Workout

bruce mars / Unsplash

It helps if you can find a friend or family member to exercise with! Working out with someone will really help to keep you motivated to exercise over the summer. Plus, it's a lot more fun when you can do it with someone than when you go by yourself since you can have someone to socialize with.

7. Don't Break Out of Your Routine

Exercise

Alora Griffiths / Unsplash

What a lot of people struggle with when they start exercising is that they have a hard time keeping up with it. If you start getting into a routine, don't break out of it. You can take time in between exercising to let your muscles rest to avoid injuring yourself. However, don't start taking weeks off of exercising. Once you stop your routine, you're going to be back at day 1 where you'll lose any progress and you'll have a harder time starting again. So make sure that whatever you do each week that you stick with it.

8. Reward Yourself

Coffee

Gaelle Marcel / Unsplash

Finally, when you are exercising, try to give yourself a reward when you accomplish a goal. If you're trying to lose weight, then I don't suggest trying to eat junk food as a reward but rather something such as giving yourself a moment to relax. Or you can reward yourself by enjoying a certain beverage that you enjoy.

So instead of trying to find excuses not to get back into exercising again after a long semester, you can use these tips to get back into it! Exercising can be hard when you've gone months without it. However, once you put your mind to it, you'll get back into the shape you were before you took a break.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

56852
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

36647
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

958450
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

189424
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments