3 Easy Ways To Start Getting in Shape Today

Getting in shape or starting a new fitness routine can be daunting. There’s always something that seems to get in the way or take priority. As we know, taking the first step (literally and figuratively speaking) is always the hardest.

Here are three tips to help you take that first step to incorporating exercise into your daily routine:

1. Walk

It sounds simple, and it is. Whether this means taking a dedicated walk around the neighborhood each night after dinner or actually following that much-circulated advice and truly parking your car on the far side of parking lots, make an intentional decision to increase the number of steps you take each day. Using a step-tracking device like a Fitbit (you can get a basic Fitbit One on Amazon for $74.99), can be useful for tracking your progress.

2. Do an exercise video

One barrier to starting or committing to daily exercise is finding the time to get to the gym. While fitness videos may conjure ideas of Richard Simmons’ Sweatin’ to the Oldies, there are videos (OK, technically they are DVDs or Blurays, but you know what I mean) out there for every interest, time commitment and fitness level. I personally love exhale’s Core Fusion Pilates Plus, which offers five 10-minute workouts that can be done individually or en masse, depending on how much time you have.

3. Play

Get a soccer game going in the yard with your kids, pick up that tennis racket you haven’t touched in years or have a dance party by yourself in the living room. Whatever it is that gets your heart pumping. Bonus: Letting yourself play will probably put a smile on your face as well. Getting in shape shouldn’t be yet another chore on your to-do list. Have a little fun.