Hobby or Not: How to workout and enjoy it (Op-Ed)

We’ve all been told that exercising is important so our bodies can remain healthy. Sports, getting active, and all things of a similar matter have been encouraged for as long as anyone can remember.

But finding what works can be a process.

When it comes to working out, it’s not a cut-and-dry “this is how it’s done and that’s it”. What works for everyone is unique. One person’s methods and what they enjoy aren’t going to be right for everybody. Like anything else, everyone’s exercise journey is different and will require varying approaches.

Finding an exercise that becomes a hobby starts with motivation. Whether it’s losing weight or putting on muscle, a way to de-stress or let aggression out, or just a way to pass the time. Someone’s reasoning doesn’t have to be justified, it’s just that, and it varies based on who you ask and what they are doing.

It also has to be recognized that “exercise” doesn’t limit someone to one activity, intensity, or time limit. Working out has to be an activity you enjoy and you have to decide for yourself when you want to do it. Imagine forcing someone who hates to run to go on a treadmill on level 5, telling them that’s the only exercise they can do. They’d rather not exercise at all.

Rather than torture yourself through a routine, start discovering what you like! Go walking with friends or family, turn on a fitness routine video, lift weights, dance, do some yoga poses, or something entirely different. If you can name it then experiment! Have fun! If you don’t like something or it hurts, that’s okay, no one’s going to force you to do anything. What’s important is that you like what you’re doing. The more you like any activity, including exercise, the more you’ll want to do it, and the more it’ll feel less like a chore and more like a hobby.

There is no universally ‘correct’ way to exercise, it’s different for everyone. Some people like to run and some want to lift weights. Find what you like, don’t hurt yourself, and don’t push yourself too far too fast.

And don’t forget the background music, it’s a nice touch.

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