Put Some Spring In Your Step

Warm weather is a good time to add some extra exercise to your weekly plans. It's easier said than done, so here are some tips for would-be exercisers who need help finding the time and motivation to get moving.

• Set specific goals. For example, walk on Tuesday and Thursday, and lift weights or go to exercise class on Monday and Friday. Mark your calendar.
  
  
• Find an exercise partner. The energy and enthusiasm of a friend, especially one who's been exercising for a long time, can help motivate you.
  
  
• Make it convenient. Choose an activity and time slot that fits smoothly into your schedule, like a bike ride after work. Or invest in an exercise machine for those days when you're housebound.
  
  
• Make it enjoyable. You won't do it if it's not. Maybe you love swimming, the solitude of a morning walk or the music and company of a dance aerobics class.
  
  
• Vary your activities. Variation reduces boredom and provides backup for weather or schedule changes.
  
  
• Set a 20-minute rule. Promise yourself that, even when you're dog tired, you'll do a light workout on your scheduled days rather than skip out.
  
  
• Be reasonable. Make exercise a long-term project that starts small with weekly goals and builds gradually.
  

Source: Personal Best Publications