Do you feel pressure with the demands of family, friends, and life in general? Do you feel nervous or uptight? Are you worried about being able to do it all? Are you feeling overwhelmed and you don't know where to turn?
Exercise and movement can be more fun when you do it with others. Being with others while you exercise also adds an extra layer of accountability. I am more likely to get up to run at 6am if I know a buddy is waiting for me. Team sports are a fun and a social environment to enjoy competition and teamwork. Joining a class or group at the gym will give you a consistent predictable routine and help you build friendships with those who like what you do.
Also, being a part of a group will help you try activities/exercises that are new or you may have not considered before. So whether you find a friend to walk every morning, join a gym, club, or team find some way to combine exercise and social. Look for people who have the same interests as you and who you enjoy spending time with. The right accountability partner can help you stick to your goals and challenge you to the next level.
Research shows that the healthy actions of others rub off on us. A study published in the Journal of Social Sciences found that participants gravitate towards the exercise behaviors of those around them. And a 2016 study published in the journal Obesity found that overweight people tend to lose more weight if they spend time with their fit friends — the more time they spend together, the more weight they lose. (NBC News)
What group exercise would you like to be a part of? What sounds fun to you?
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