Try to be active, not perfect

Three things to tell yourself if you think you aren’t active enough

Ever thought to yourself ‘What’s the point of exercising for 10 minutes? Surely that’s not enough’ or ‘I’m so slow and can’t exercise for long’. Well, stop being mean to yourself and keep these three important points in mind:

1. You are beating everyone on the couch. Did you walk around the block? Did you park the robovac and sweep the floors using an old-fashioned broom? Did you hang the washing on the line? That’s more activity than you’d get if you stayed on the couch.
2. Something is better than nothing. We should all aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day but if that’s not possible, any amount of physical activity will be good for your health, including improving heart health and fitness. So, whether you fit in 10 minutes each day or do most of your activity on the weekend you’ll be better off than doing none. Even getting up regularly and moving around is good for your body.
3. Strive for progress, not perfection. This one comes down to self-compassion. Some days you may not be able to exercise for long. You may feel tired, lack motivation, be short on time, or all the above. When that happens, you may need a gentler approach. Swap longer for shorter or less intense. Try a 10 minute yoga session in the loungeroom. What about changing a work meeting to a walking meeting? Do your best to add some activity to your day and be kind to yourself on the days when you can’t be as active.

Living a physically active life is about being active any way you can, not about being perfect.

Get Active Victoria provides a range of activities that you can do from home including Pilates, yoga and stretching classes. Many are just 10 minutes long so are great if you are trying to get back into exercise or for those days when you need to take it a little easier.