Tips for Getting Started

• Choose an activity that's fun.
• Change your activities, so you don't get bored.
• Doing housework may not be fun, but it does get you moving! So does gardening, yard work, and walking the dog.
• If you can't set aside one block of time, do short activities during the day, such as three, 10-minute walks.
• Create opportunities for activity, such as parking your car farther away, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking down the hall to talk to a coworker instead of using e-mail.
• Don't let the cold weather keep you on the couch! You can still find activities to do in the winter like exercising to a workout video or joining a sports league. Or get a head start on your spring cleaning by choosing active indoor chores like window washing or reorganizing closets.
• Use different jogging, walking, or biking paths to vary your routine.
• Exercise with a friend or family member.
• If you have children, make time to play with them outside. Set a positive example!
• Make activities into social occasions-have dinner after you and a friend work out.
• Read books or magazines to inspire you.
• Set specific, short-term goals, and reward yourself when you achieve them.
• Don't feel badly if you don't notice body changes right away.
• Make your activity a regular part of your day, so it becomes a habit.
• Build a community group to form walking clubs, build walking trails, start exercise classes, and organize special events to promote physical activity.