Paralyzed by too many options? 10 simple ways to keep things...simple!

Kettle bells and dumbbells, resistance bands and exercise balls, elliptical machines and treadmills, benches and barbells, stair climbers and squats …and the list goes on…
 
Variety is the spice of life, right? Well it can be. But too many options can also cause analysis paralysis. These days when it comes to workout options, simplicity seems to have taken a backseat. While it’s great to have options, having too many options at our disposal can often make us feel like no matter which option we choose, we still could have made a better one. So we feel stuck. We’d rather just not try anything at all. So we don’t…
 
Years ago before I started dabbling with various types of exercise equipment, when I was “only” walking for exercise, I faced a similar, ongoing predicament. I never wanted to attempt a new exercise because I felt overwhelmed by all the options. And being a bit of a perfectionist, I didn’t see the point in trying anything new because if I still wasn’t doing all of the exercises I thought I could or should be doing, then why bother? All the marketing from the fitness industry had successfully gone to my head. And ironically rather than get a sale out of me, they failed to get me to spend even a single dime!
 
Fortunately somewhere along the way I realized that my approach was wrong. If you want to get in shape then you will inevitably at some point need to spice up your workouts. Our bodies are highly adaptable, which is a good thing. But it also means that we need to constantly challenge ourselves to keep growing, to keep getting better, else we stagnate. This can be applied to exercise but also to life in general.
 
We are shaped by our stressors and are strengthened by adversity. We grow from life’s toughest lessons. Think of your physical body the same way. Your body will learn and then master each new physical task that you throw at it. And you will just know when it is time to try the next thing. Obviously we don’t want all of life’s stressors coming at us all at once. So we grow slowly, one new experience at a time. And that’s exactly what I started doing with exercise. Over time I just naturally wanted to try more and more new exercises as I continued to grow (not in weight, in strength!).
 
Have you ever found yourself in this perpetually confused state, now knowing which option to begin with?

If so, here are 10 useful tips on how to keep things simple:

1. Consider which types of exercises you think you’d enjoy the most. Start with these.
2. Grow gradually and don’t put any pressure on yourself. You’ll get to your goals, in time. You don’t need to try everything at once.
3.  Choose just only one new exercise at a time.
4. Remember that a complete exercise program doesn’t even have to involve any equipment!
5. Ensure mastery before moving on to the next thing. In the beginning, focus mostly on mastering the proper form and technique. Grow from there.
6. Find others who are supportive or who may want to join you.
7. Find ways to make exercise more enjoyable by adding music, for example.
8. If you discover that you are no longer enjoying a particular exercise or even worse, are dreading it, no need to stick with it. Exercise should never be a form of punishment. Move on to the next thing, something you will enjoy more, and something you can stick with!
9. No matter the exercises you choose, aim to get at least around 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity per week.
10. Engage in strength training activities that involve in all major muscle groups at least 2 days per week.

 
Takeaway
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to the best way to get your body moving. Don’t let all the possibilities paralyze you with inaction. Just get out there and begin to slowly discover all of the wonderful ways your body can move. Have fun with the process. Make it simple but make it worthwhile. And don’t forget to make time to reflect often on how each type of exercise is making you feel.
 
Accept that you will enjoy some types of exercise and you’ll loathe others. That’s okay. The idea is to just move, every single day. The idea is to do something each day, no matter how small, that is getting you closer to meeting your goals.
 
You might just find that you become excited to try the next thing. Multiple options suddenly feel like opportunities. What to try next? Kettle bells or dumbbells? Resistance bands or exercise balls? Elliptical machines or treadmills? Stair climbers or squats? …the possibilities are endless!

Need a little extra help to stay motivated?
Check out AndiamoFit's Healthy Habits Workbooks!