I remember the first time I got on that bike, it was like that 6 year old kids that gets his first bike at Christmas, and you’re smiling ear to ear… I’m cruising on this thing and I felt so much joy. It felt so fun. Just the wind. Just the everything… - Jason, Virginia
One thing that we all realize as we age is that it is not always easy to stay active. Between work life and home life, we get tired or forget to give ourselves time to do something physical.
Jason runs a non-profit that builds affordable homes, which requires a lot of organization. It can be stressful. About a year ago he realized that he needed something in his life to give him a jolt. Get him active again.
The Trouble with Routines…
Getting enough exercise is hard for many reasons. Most people tend to stop a routine shortly after starting… and here are the main culprits:
The most common reasons why people start and stop an exercise program are well documented:
1) Perceived lack of time
2) Exercise-related injuries
3) Exercise is not fun
Lack of time (perceived or real) is likely the biggest stumbling block for people trying to adopt a new exercise regimen. People can overcome this barrier by deciding to stop thinking of exercise as a planned activity and instead try to move more throughout the day.
You’ll be amazed at how much more active you and others will become and how little time you have to sacrifice to do it. Any movement people do increases the amount of energy that they expend in a day as well. [1]
The beauty of e-biking as a mode of transportation is that is cancels out all of these drawbacks, particularly the one about fun. Jason got back in the saddle over a year ago and saw two dramatic changes in his life.
He’s lost weight and has found a way to relieve stress. Getting out on the weekends has him more active, healthier, and lowered his blood pressure.
But more importantly, it has made him active during his regular work life.
Just the other day, he needed to go to a meeting with someone in town. It was about 2 miles away, and instead of driving and worrying about parking. He rolled up on his e-bike.
Much better way to meeting than opening Zoom!
In the hustle and bustle of work and running around, it is easy to forget that we can make it more fun with something as simple as a bike ride.
The Fun with Routines…
For people with health issues, I tell them look, when I got mine, I was fifty pounds heavier. My blood pressure was a little high, now it’s not high anymore. Stuff like that. So that’s kinda neat. That makes me smile when I talk to someone and tell them you can have some fun on this and get some exercise and you don’t even realize you’re getting exercise because your having so much fun.
Getting into a new routine is effortless when its fun. But when it is so much fun that you actively try to work it into your workday?
Then you are on to something…
A New Routine is Effortless When It's Fun...