Are you having trouble exercising? You are not alone. Millions of adults are in the same situation as you. You know you should exercise and your doctor has suggested it several times. Your health may be suffering due to lack of activity and you are in a position where exercise will bring you vital benefits. An exercise program is more important to you now than ever. It’s easy to procrastinate or skip physical activity in your 20s and 30s. But it catches up with you sooner or later.

You have a hard time fitting a regular exercise plan into your day. You know you feel good when you exercise …

• you have more energy,
• your blood sugar level drops, and
• you feel great.

But including exercise in your busy life isn’t always easy. Don’t think that the fact that some people have the habit out of it is necessarily easy. Remember, we all have the same amount of time to work during the day. We all have, more or less, 16 hours a day to use. While most of this will go towards essential responsibilities, there is always time for a thirty or forty minute workout somewhere.

If you are having a hard time motivating yourself, be sure not to use lack of time as an excuse. Most of the time, it is not justified. If it helps, think about what the exercise will do for you now. Don’t focus so much on long-term benefits, because if motivation is the main missing factor, you may need more reasons to get inspired and get moving.

If you haven’t been exercising for the past few years, you may have forgotten what it’s like to complete a workout. You have probably heard of the good feelings that come when it ends as a result of neurotransmitter activity in the brain. But do you remember how it feels? Why not …

• do 40 minutes of cardio.
• expect an active yoga class.
• Go for a walk on a Sunday afternoon.

You will feel great when you are done. Not only this, but the feeling of having been productive through physical activity and working on your health provides a boost in your mood on its own.

Have you ever wondered why some people can be so addicted to exercise? In part, because of the positive emotion it often brings. If you’ve been stressed or overcome with anxiety lately, exercise will especially help, as it provides a therapeutic way to mentally relax. And of course, it will do wonders for your health if you can make it a habit. You have to start somehow.

So for now, do it for the post-workout feel. It may be the highlight of your day, considering that most days are normal for most of us.

Exercise doesn’t always have to be a struggle.