Making Physical Activity a Habit
Until physical activity becomes a habit for you, staying
active may seem difficult. Here are some tips that may help you make it a
habit.
- When you first start an exercise program, try to exercise at the same time every day. You can vary the time and place later, but
creating a habit requires repetition.
- Schedule your physical activity. Block it out on your
calendar or day planner. Do several weeks in advance if you can, so that you
get used to thinking of that time as already scheduled.
- Do your physical activity regularly for at least 3 months. Experts say that it takes about 3 months of repetition to
form a habit. For some people, 3 months is not long enough to form the habit.
Changing seasons and weather may interfere with establishing a habit. Keep it
up until you think about physical activity as a normal part of your day.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Heather Chambliss, PhD - Exercise Science |
| Last Revised | November 7, 2012 |