It seems that the hardest part of incorporating physical activity into your day is removing all the barriers that keep you sedentary. The typical reasons people say they are not physically active are:

• Lack of time
• Lack of energy
• Social influence
• Fear of injury
• Lack of skill
• Lack of resources
• Lack of willpower/motivation
• Weather conditions
• Retirement years
• Inconsistent work schedule

As you can see, there is no shortage of barriers to physical activity, but that doesn’t mean these barriers need to stop you from getting your daily allotment of exercise. The first step in overcoming physical activity barriers is to identify the top reason you don’t exercise and develop a specific plan to overcome that barrier.

I think one of the most common reasons people don’t exercise is a lack of time, so here are some suggestions and examples of how you can strategize to overcome this barrier.

Write down your schedule on paper so you can see exactly what your day looks like. Look for times during your day when you could stop and exercise. For example:

• Walk your kids to school instead of drive.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Take a shorter lunch and go for a walk.
• Get to work earlier so you can go to the gym on your way home.

Another reason people report not being physically active is that they feel self-conscious while they exercise. Gyms can be very intimidating and walking around your neighborhood may not be something you are comfortable with. If this is a concern for you, then assess what resources you have. There are many personal trainers that will come to your home or work out in small groups. There are classes and gyms specifically designed for different ages and genders that might work for you. Another way to overcome the social barrier is to work out with a friend or someone you feel comfortable with.

No matter what your barrier to physical activity is, there are lots of ways you can strategize and plan to improve your level of fitness. It all starts with you making a plan and setting goals to improve your activity level.