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Spring is in the air which means its time to come out of hibernation and start movin’! During April I will be promoting the Exercise Attitude Adjustment Challenge! This challenge encourages you to focus on exercising for the health of it, rather than trying to be the next olympic gold medalist! Remember-progress, not perfection-every little bit of effort counts!

We all know that the recommendation is to do 60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week for optimal health. In reality, Americans only exercise for an average of 17 minutes per day. So what is slowing us down?

I believe that the key problem is exercise attitudes. Maybe you don’t have time in your busy schedule to set aside an hour for exercise. Or is it that you just can’t get yourself motivated to run on the treadmill? Many of us have unrealistic expectations about the changes we want to see to our bodies. The first step towards being physically active is an exercise attitude adjustment. Get rid of that negative thinking and turn your stroll into a skip!

Staying active is all about making it work for you and your lifestyle. Keep these three tips in mind as you race to meet your exercise goals.

1. Choose activities you enjoy. Don’t force yourself to go on a 10-mile run if that’s not your thing! It may be hard to believe, but some of the activities you probably already enjoy doing actually count as exercise. For instance, daily activities such as vacuuming, gardening, raking leaves, walking the dog, or even just picking up kids toys force us to get up and move. Personalize your exercise by discovering what makes you happy, whether that is dancing, yoga, biking, playing a sport or going for a walk with a friend. One exercise routine does not fill all!

2. Tailor your exercise to fit with your schedule. Making time for physical activity does not have to be stressful. Simple changes can make a world of difference:

•       Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
•       Park at the far end of the parking lot or get off a stop early on the subway.
•       Break up your exercise with a quick 15-minute morning yoga session, a 30-minute lunchtime brisk walk, and a 15-minute evening workout video- the combination is just as good as exercising for an hour straight!
•       Multitask. Walk on the treadmill while returning phone calls in the evening or catch up on reading while on the stationary bike.
•       On the weekends plan activities with family or friends that gets everyone moving. Organize a family bike ride, embark on a morning hike, sign up for a yoga class with a friend, or go for a swim.

3. Discover what motivates you. Whether you find a workout buddy, sign up for a group exercise class, or invest in a device to track your activity, everyone needs some sort of encouragement. Allot time for exercise on your daily calendar and make it a routine!

Your Turn to Share

Now that I’ve shared the secrets to achieving an exercise attitude adjustment I want to hear your ideas. How do you get motivated? What activities do you do to get moving? Tweet, Post, Instagram or Pin your favorite exercise tips, quotes, or activities to help others get on board!

• Use the primary hashtag #SelfCareChallenge in your messages
• Be sure to “follow” me on Facebook , Twitter or Pinterest. I’ll be posting motivations, tips, and responding to your questions EVERY SINGLE DAY.
• If you have a blog, write about your experience and share those links.

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