How To Get Fit: A Guide For Lazy Women Everywhere

There’s no one perfect way to get fit. But when you’re lazy, a lot of the standard methods won’t work for you. So here’s a guide for getting fit when you hate exercise and struggle to find motivation!

1. Add extra steps to your day wherever you can. Some fitness gurus say to aim for at least 10,000 steps a day. While you don’t have to achieve this to get fit, it’s true that adding as many steps as you can to your daily count can only benefit you. If you don’t have time for one big walk, try to add in steps sporadically. Park further away at the supermarket so you have to walk. Opt for the stairs instead of the elevator. If you can try and walk to work. Every step counts! And when you add in steps this way, you won’t feel like you’re even exercising.
2. Move every hour. Make a habit of moving frequently throughout the day, at least every hour. This isn’t only good for your fitness levels, but for your whole body. Especially if you sit at a desk all day, it’s super important to get up and change positions. If you work from home, get up once an hour and go for a little walk around the house or even down the street. If you have a backyard, stroll around the clothesline. Even getting up and stretching throughout the day can improve your fitness. If you work in an office, get up and walk to the coffee machine, the printer, or to visit your colleagues frequently.
3. Find exercise that you like. You’ll never stick to an exercise routine if you hate it. When you’re lazy, the love of exercise in general isn’t enough to get you motivated. If you’re going to stick to doing exercise, it has to be something you like. So take the time to explore different exercises and find something that works for you. It might simply be walking. Or it might be Pilates, jogging, or even team sport.
4. Get a good playlist together. Listening to a good playlist of music can be extra incentive to exercise. When the exercise alone isn’t enough of a drawing point because you’re kind of lazy, make it about the music. Those who have busy lives might not get the chance to listen to music much at all, so it’s the perfect opportunity. Get together a playlist in advance. Then when it’s time to work out, you won’t be able to say no.
5. Work out at home. The thought of getting up and going to a gym is often a turn-off for lazy people. But if you can work out in the comfort of your own home, exercise becomes a lot more appealing. With online exercise videos and apps, it’s never been easier to work out at home. The beauty of this is that you can do it at a time that suits you, even early in the morning or late at night, without having to leave your house.
6. Start with small reps. The idea of a huge amount of reps is daunting for most people, let alone those who have no motivation. Harper’s Bazaar Arabia recommends committing to small reps at first if you’re too lazy to exercise. It’s easier to do 10 push-ups than it is to do 100. And just thinking of 100 might turn you off doing push-ups altogether.
7. Get active with a pet. An active pet that you love will force you to exercise, whether you want to or not. This usually works because it’s not wanting to exercise for yourself that gets you off your butt, but simply needing to take care of your pet. Of course, don’t go out and get a pet you can’t look after just to motivate you to work out. This is more like a bonus if you already have a pet, or were going to get one anyway. Remember pets are long-term choices and require a lot of work!
8. Reward yourself for sticking to your exercise goals. Organize little rewards for yourself as you hit your exercise goals and get fit. This way, the thought of the reward will motivate you to keep going when the exercise alone isn’t enough. Try to choose rewards that you genuinely enjoy but that also won’t set you back in any way.
9. Regularly do household chores that boost your heart rate. WebMD recommends doing household chores to get fit. Many choices actually boost your heart rate significantly, including vacuuming, carrying groceries, and moving furniture to dust. You need to do these things anyway, so you might as well go all out. The more frequently you do them, the fitter you will get.
10. Think about other benefits of exercise. If the thought of exercise doesn’t get your blood pumping on its own, think of all the benefits of exercise. For example, you might not care about running marathons or getting a six-pack. So instead, focus on what exercise does for your mental health. Don’t make working out purely about exercise alone. Rather, think about the other advantages you might get in return, like a calmer state of mind, more strength, and better sleep.