Why You Can’t Stick to Exercise (And How to Fix It)
You can view my disclosure here.
We all know exercise is good for us — mood boost, better sleep, stronger body, clearer mind, yadda yadda. But here’s the real tea: the biggest benefit (at least for me) is the feeling of actually being in control of my life again. Moving my body gives me this quiet little spark of, “I feel ALIVE.”
But starting? Starting is the hardest part.
If you’ve tried to exercise a million times and you always quit within a week… girl, it’s not because you’re lazy. It’s probably because you’ve never found a type of movement that you genuinely enjoy.
Let’s fix that. ✨
💛 Why You Can’t Stick With Exercise
If exercise feels like a chore, your brain is basically going:
“Girl, we hate this. Why are we doing this?”
And who wants to fight their own brain every day?
Half the time we’re also comparing ourselves to what we think we “should” be doing.
Like… I used to think “real” fitness girlies ran 5Ks before sunrise. Meanwhile, I run like a glitching NPC. A turtle with shin splints. A decorative jogger at best 😭
But here’s the plot twist:
You don’t have to run at all to see the mental + physical benefits of movement.
For me, my happy place ended up being cardio I actually enjoy — things like walking, dancing around my living room, low-impact workouts, cycling videos, stuff that feels fun instead of punishing. When I’m feeling spicy, I’ll do something more intense. When I’m not? I stick to gentle movement. No guilt.
Step 1: Figure Out What You ACTUALLY Enjoy
Here are some questions that make this soooo much easier:
What type of movement feels fun… or at least not miserable?
Try different vibes:
- dance workouts
- walking outside
- cycling (peloton-style or YouTube)
- yoga
- Pilates
- kickboxing
- strength training
- swimming
- mini 10–15 minute home workouts
- beginner-friendly cardio routines
Give yourself permission to test things with ZERO commitment.
What do you not enjoy at all?
Eliminate guilt by eliminating workouts that make you want to evaporate.
What environment works for you?
- home workouts with YouTube
- a gym
- outside walks
- classes with music
- solo vibes
- a buddy
What time of day makes you feel the most human?
Some people thrive at sunrise.
Some of us are barely sentient until 10am.
Pick a time you actually like.
Step 2: Start Small (Like… Embarrassingly Small)
If you’re struggling to start, please don’t throw yourself into a 60-minute routine you found on Pinterest.
Start with:
- 5 minutes of movement
- a 10-minute walk
- one beginner YouTube video
- one song’s worth of dancing
- stretching before bed
Small commitments build trust with yourself.
Trust becomes consistency.
Consistency becomes change.
Step 3: Create a “Movement Menu”
This is my fave actionable tip:
Write down 5–7 movement options that actually feel doable + enjoyable.
For example, my movement menu has things like:
- 20 min low-impact cardio video
- 10 min walk outside
- 15 min beginner strength circuit
- dance to 3 songs
- slow walk on treadmill while watching YouTube
The rule: pick one daily.
It doesn’t matter which.
You’re still moving your body. You’re still building momentum.
Step 4: Let Exercise Feel Like Self-Care
When exercising stops feeling like a punishment and starts feeling like:
- a breather
- a reset button
- time to vibe to music
- a break from your thoughts
- “me time”
…you’re way more likely to keep doing it.
You don’t need to be a marathon queen.
You don’t need to be “hardcore.”
And you don’t need to fit into whatever the fitness side of the internet is screaming about this week.
You just need to find something you genuinely like.
The Real Secret to Sticking With It
Working out isn’t a magic fix for everything, but making small, loving commitments to yourself absolutely changes the way you feel about your life.
You don’t need intensity — you need consistency.
And consistency comes from enjoyment.
So if exercise has always felt impossible for you… try looking for the type of movement that actually lights you up.
Start tiny.
Stay gentle.
And let your habits grow with you. 💛
