Mustering Motivation: Tips for Overcoming Obstacles to Regular Physical Activity

One of the most common and unhelpful misconceptions when it comes to aging adults and exercise is that everyone exercises the same. The vast majority of programs available to the aging sector of the population cater to those who are already active and assume that everyone can do the same activities. But we know from personal experience and observation that this simply isn't true: not everyone has the body mechanics to perform the same exercises. And when programs aren't inclusive of that fact, they leave out a lot of folks who might otherwise be able to engage if their needs were taken into account. The absence of resources for getting active when starting from square one is a huge obstacle for many aging adults, and one that we aim to alleviate with the  app. Learn about how we're building the Restart! app to provide a frictionless, empowering experience that can help you get moving right away here.

Beyond a lack of resources, there are a variety of other common obstacles people face when they want to make a significant lifestyle change. While it can be very individualistic in terms of which obstacles one person struggles with compared to another, these are some challenges we've faced or observed loved ones facing, along with some tips to help move past them:

What If I Hurt Myself?

If you are already coping with a chronic condition like osteoarthritis or a cardiovascular condition, increasing your level of physical activity might give you some trepidation. It makes sense that you would be concerned about potentially exacerbating an already painful or scary diagnosis, and it is important to recognize that any pre-existing conditions will affect how your body will respond to various exercises. If this is the case for you, it is especially important to engage with your doctor before undertaking any new fitness program, but the science is clear that you face much greater risk of adverse health outcomes by not engaging in physical activity than any risk of injury or cardiovascular event if you do.

If you're experiencing pain when performing certain exercises, there are different exercises that can target similar muscle groups that may be more comfortable for your body's mechanics. With the Restart! app, your exercise program is customizable at any time so you can let us know what isn't working and try equivalent exercises that work for you rather than against you.

It's also worth noting that there is a difference between pain that is the discomfort of using muscles in a way you don't normally use them versus pain that indicates danger. Sometimes we are so wary of any pain, we miss the benefits to be gained from pushing through the normal discomfort that comes with building strength. As you begin to increase your mobility, stay tuned in to how you feel to learn where your body's limits are and how to safely push past them or work around them. Mindfully engaging with a movement can help you stay present to how your body feels: consider working out sans music or podcasts while trying new movements to ensure you can think through how your muscles are operating throughout the exercise.

I Don't Want to Go to a Gym or Buy Home Gym Equipment

Having a designated space for exercise doesn't mean you have to go out and join a new gym or order a Peloton and a Bowflex or some other space-consuming contraption. It can be as simple as carving out a corner of your living room, a guest room, or a finished basement where you can maybe roll out a yoga mat and safely move your body without knocking into anything.

With the exercises in the Restart! app, it's possible to do everything in your own home with nothing but your own body weight. You don't need to buy dumbbells, resistance bands, or anything else. All you need is your finger and a phone to get moving right away. Having some kind of designated area you enter to work through your daily feed in the Restart! app will help you build your new habit in a few helpful ways:

• If the space is in a moderately trafficked area in your house, it acts as a visual cue throughout the day, reminding you to check your app and complete a workout.

• By dedicating space to your fitness journey, you give yourself a mental line to cross that separates the rest of your life from the time you're spending in that space doing something good for yourself, which can help you avoid distractions and stay focused throughout your workouts.

• You'll feel more committed to your workouts by having committed space to that purpose.

What If I Just Don't Feel Like It?

One of the beauties of the Restart! app is how easy it is to adjust your workout plan based on how you feel from one day to the next. There will of course be days when you're not really feeling the exercises in your daily feed; maybe you're sleep-deprived, catching a cold, or dealing with a big life event. On those days, you can let us know you're not up for whatever's on the docket, and the app will adjust your plan accordingly.

But there is a magic time frame that can help on the days you're just a little unsure whether or not you have a workout in you: ten minutes. If you can commit to just doing ten minutes of your exercise routine, that's ten minutes more than you would have gotten if you skipped it entirely, and that's about how long it takes for endorphins to kick in. You might even find that after those first ten minutes, you feel like you can finish that workout after all.

You Don't Have to Step Up; Just Step In

With the customizable programs built in the Restart! app, we're lowering the entry barrier to a fitter lifestyle all the way to the floor. You don't have to step up in order to start using Restart!, you just have to step in at the exact level you currently are. So on those days when motivation is hard to come by, just remember that Restart! is here for you to make it as easy as possible to begin accumulating the benefits of more movement. No intimidation or guilt trips or pressure. Just show up and do your best, and we'll figure out the rest.

Ready to Restart? Get on the list to be the first to know when the Restart! app launches here.