The following is a post by MPFJ staff writer, Derek Sall. Derek is the owner of the blog, LifeAndMyFinances.com, where he teaches people how to get out of debt, save money, and become wealthy.
Do you have plans to shed a few pounds this winter? Or maybe you’re already in shape and would like to continue to stay active this winter. If you had absolutely no plans to get your heart rate up this winter, I think you should really reconsider. Did you know that exercising could keep your wallet a little fatter in the upcoming years?
By taking some time now and etching out some time to work out, you could avoid some serious medical complications in the future. Or, at the very least, you could extend your lifespan by a couple more years.
Set Simple, Yet Effective Goals
Goals are incredibly important in all areas of life, whether it be a financial, fitness, or a relationship goal. If you do not have a goal the odds are already overwhelmingly against you. For, with no goal, one will quickly forget the aspirations of yesterday and will simply blow along with the wind of today.
So how does one set an effective goal?
Well, by definition a goal is a future ambition to be accomplished on a set date. Without a date, a goal is simply a dream. So, what you must first do is set a goal for yourself, and then set a reasonable date to accomplish the goal.
In regards to exercise, your goal might be to lose 10 pounds. In order to do so healthily, I would suggest setting this goal two months in the future. If you decide on this goal on January 20th, plan to lose those 10 pounds by March 19th. Then, almost more importantly than the overall goal, set little goals along the way to keep yourself on track. Continuing with our example, on February 1st you might set a goal for yourself to lose your first three pounds.
If you achieve this goal, reward yourself with a new pair of sneakers or a Fitbit watch (or whatever it is that you fancy). In order to stay on pace with your overall goal, be sure to set those small goals to keep you on target.
Find Activities That You Enjoy
Personally, I enjoy being active, but running on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike is torture! If I had to get in shape by only doing these two things I would probably gain 20 pounds instead of losing weight! Stationary running just isn’t my idea of fun.
For me, I stay in shape by running outside, riding my bicycle outside, and swimming. I also enjoy playing basketball and tennis when the weather is nice outside. If it’s snowy, then I’ll resort to cross country skiing or snowboarding. These are the things I enjoy doing. They keep me active and it hardly feels like exercise.
What are the activities that you enjoy doing? If they keep you in shape and fit within your financial budget, consider doing them more often to get yourself into shape and stay trim. You will have fun and your future self will thank you for the reduced medical bills, and therefore reduced costs.
Partner Up or Join a Activity Group
Unfortunately, even “fun” activities still aren’t all that fun by yourself. Instead of going for a solo bike ride or a solo jog, it is often much better to have a running partner or sign up for a group ride once a week. Joining conversation to exercise makes it feel much less like exercise and more like a social event. Plus, by joining a group you will likely feel that you are held more accountable. Miss a week and you might just receive a phone call from one of your activity group friends.
In the name of exercise, it’s good to have a nudge to get your heart rate up on a consistent basis don’t you think?
How about you all? Do you exercise on a regular basis? Do you have a new fitness goal that you are trying to achieve? Share your experiences by commenting below!
**Photo courtesy of http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pas-de-patin.jpg
