Making fitness a habit

Until physical activity becomes a habit for you, the effort to remain active may seem difficult.

• When you first start an exercise program, try to exercise at the same time every day. You can vary the time and place later, but creating a habit requires repetition.
• Consider your physical activity efforts a scheduled part of your day. Block it out on your calendar or day planner. Do several months in advance if you can, so that you become used to thinking of that time as already scheduled.
• Do your physical activity regularly for at least 3 months. Experts say that it takes about 3 months of repetition to form a habit. For some people, 3 months is not long enough to form the habit. Changing seasons and weather may interfere with establishing a habit. Keep it up until you don't think about it as an extra part of your day.