What’s Stopping You?
Once you make it a habit, it’s easy to be active. But most of us face some barriers at first. They may be related to a past bad experience, concern about our level of ability, or any number of other issues in our daily lives.
Here’s a list of some of the most common barriers and some strategies to help you overcome them.
| Barriers to being physically active | Strategies |
| Do not like to exercise and sweat | Choose a low impact and moderate intensity activity you ENJOY. Make it convenient to be active. Many activities are accessible right from your front door — gardening, walking, shopping, etc. Take every opportunity to be active: walk for short errands; walk on your lunch hour; take the stairs more often. |
| Lack of energy | Being active helps you feel good, and more energetic, for what your day has in store. Remember — you don't have to work up a sweat to get the benefits of regular physical activity. If you're a morning person, fit in your activity before the demands of the day begin. At the end of a busy day, activity can be a great way to unwind and re-energize. |
| Not enough time in the day | Try to fit physical activity in throughout your day at home, at work, at play and along the way. See the tip sheet Fitting Activity into Your Day at Home . |
| Not sure where to go | Check with your local community listings for parks, clubs, rinks, pools, fitness centres and other leisure facilities. Ask for a consultation with the program coordinator if you're not sure what's right for you. |
| Don’t want to do exercise alone | Encourage a friend or family member to join you or join a scheduled class or club for support and friendship. |
