Haley Sorenson

Everyone knows that exercising regularly has many benefits, not just for your physical health, but your mental health too. From heart-health to stress-management, exercising can bring positive outcomes to all aspects of your life. Even though you may have all the knowledge of why you should exercise, you may still find yourself hitting the snooze button for those early morning workouts — or unmotivated to workout after a long day at the office. As you prepare to make exercising part of your life, here are some tips to help you stay on track with your new healthy habit.

Set a goal. By setting goals, you are holding yourself accountable. When setting goals, I like to stick with the SMART goal acronym: Make your goal specific, achievable, relevant and time-bound. When setting goals, focus on making them short-term, so as you go through your wellness journey you continue to crush your goals, leading yourself into long-term success. 

Put exercising on your calendar. Just as you would put a doctor’s appointment on your calendar, do the same with your workouts. Make exercising a priority and put it in a place that can work with your schedule, and make your schedule work around your new exercise routine. 

Find a workout you enjoy. If you don’t like something, you won’t do it! You can explore all types of workouts with group exercise classes. From yoga to cycling, group exercise classes offer a variety of workouts that you can try.

Find your fitness community. Whether it be a community you find at your favorite gym or a group of friends you walk with, you are more likely to show up and workout when driven by the energy and presence of others. Finding your fitness community allows you to have a sense of belonging and purpose.

(Haley Sorenson is the athletics director at Club Dauntless.)