I have to make a decision each and every day on my way home from work. The decision is “do I turn or do I go straight.” Turning will lead me to the elementary school parking lot. Where I will pick up my daughter and then go home and start our evening activities and chores. Going straight, means I will head to the gym and do a workout prior to going to the elementary school. Sometimes I agrue with myself about which way to go. Sometimes I wait until the last possible second to make the decision. The best decision I can make is to continue going straight so that I can get to the gym and workout.
When I am struggling with making the decision to go straight, I remind myself of all of the reasons I like to exercise. If I remind myself of these things I am more than likely to continue on the road toward the gym.
My Top 10 Reasons to Exercise:
- My mood is immediately lifted. I can be in a bad mood, but once I start to exercise I feel much better. Things don’t seem as bad as I thought they were. The sky seems a little brighter.
- I have been told that exercise helps prevent illnesses and helps to build the immune system. I hate being sick. If exercise can help to ward off illness and build my immune system it is worth the effort. I work in a school, when the kids get sick germs spread fast. I need all the help I can get in order to prevent illness.
- I find exercise helps to build my self-esteem. The more I do the more I am able to do. This helps me to be confident in myself and my abilities.
- Exercise reduces my feelings of stress. I can go to the gym feeling stressed and leave feeling calm and stress free.
- I only have one body. I need to take care of this body, because it will be with me for years to come.
- Exercises helps me to be able to function in my normal daily routine. Keeping up with a busy child, working full time, and keeping up with house is hard. Exercising helps me to stay fit and capable of doing these task. When I don’t exercise I notice that my aches and pains increase and I get tired easily.
- When I exercise I gain focus. Things can be murky and confusing. I can work on a problem all day and not figure it out. However, once I hit the gym and start exercising the ideas and solutions to problems start to flow. Exercise really does help me regain my focus and clarity.
- Exercising helps me to maintain good eating habits. After all why eat well if I am not going to exercise, and why exercise if I am not going to eat well. Exercise and nutrition go hand in hand. Keeping both in line help me to be the best that I can be.
- My doctor has told me that if I continue to exercise and drop a few pounds that my constant knee and back pain will reduce and in time disappear. That one promise in itself is enough to get me to the gym.
- Exercising gives me time to clear my mind. I do not like going home with work things and problems on my mind. Stopping by the gym prior to going home helps me to clear my mind. This prepares me to be the best wife and mom that I can be when I arrive home.
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