I absolutely love being active. My husband can attest to how happy I am when dancing, practicing yoga, or even lifting weights. Before my recent pregnancy, I had plenty of opportunities to be on the move. It may sound bad to admit now, but there used to be a time when I couldn’t understand how people could spend so much of their lives sitting at a desk all day just to come home and watch TV.
Then came my second pregnancy, and 2013 became a bit of a blur for me. Interestingly, it wasn’t due to anything bad happening—in fact, our beautiful baby boy was born in August that year. Instead, it was because I got caught up in making excuses to avoid my usual active lifestyle. At the time, these excuses seemed valid: I was pregnant, managing a two-year-old who still wouldn’t sleep through the night, preparing our condo for renting, getting ready to move at 37 weeks pregnant, and convincing my husband to leave his job while ensuring we could handle finances with my new business. That period was really stressful, and while I tried going for walks, doing some yoga, or finding the energy for a workout DVD, I felt like my identity as someone who loves to move was slipping away.
I strongly believe in the benefits of exercise. I even write about fitness and movement for a living. There is so much research backing up what I know deep down: exercise helps you stay healthy, live longer, combat diseases, and improve your overall well-being. Yet, I still let my excuses make me inactive.
Many people only see exercise as a way to burn calories or lose weight. When I reduced my activity, I definitely gained more weight than I wanted during pregnancy, but what was even more concerning was the drop in my energy levels, trouble managing stress, and a noticeable decrease in happiness.
Fortunately, I’m back into my exercise routine now, though it did take some effort to get here. For me, the key was getting out of the house for some “me” time through exercise. No more workout DVDs or streamed yoga sessions at home—with two kids, those weren’t practical for me. I had to find something I genuinely enjoyed doing.
And that’s the thing: exercise, or whatever you want to call it, should be something that makes you happy—after you get over the initial soreness, that is. If you find yourself stuck in a cycle of excuses keeping you from daily exercise, it’s time to break free. Here are five common excuses not to work out and how to tackle them:
First, I understand life can be busy—I really do. While I don’t claim to be the busiest person ever, I have used the busyness excuse too. If you look closely at your daily schedule, you might find an extra 20-30 minutes, or even more. I often claim to be swamped, yet I waste time on Facebook, reading random articles, or watching TV. If every moment of your day is spent doing meaningful activities, you’re either getting too much sleep or need to offload some tasks.
Here’s the crux: If you think exercising takes too long, consider how much time dealing with injuries, chronic pain, or illness takes. You need to prioritize fitness—it’s possible to make time for it.
Thinking you need a pricey gym membership, fancy equipment, or a personal trainer to get fit? Well, you really don’t. You just need to use your body. You can work on strength, endurance, and flexibility with bodyweight exercises. Take a walk, do push-ups, planks, or burpees at home. Swim at a local pool, bike to work, try running, or even lift your kids. There are numerous affordable or free exercise programs online.
Now, this excuse has some validity—if you’re injured or in chronic pain, it’s crucial to get medical advice. Most injuries can be addressed with adaptations or alternative exercises. If you have a sprained ankle, don’t jump on a trampoline, but you could try seated yoga, weightlifting while seated, or aquatic exercises if possible.
Chronic pain might also stem from an inactive lifestyle. As a Movement Therapist, I’ve seen how movement can help people with chronic pain. Remember, our bodies are made to move; they deteriorate if we don’t.
For a while, I thought chasing a three-year-old was sufficient exercise, and some days it was. However, watching her play at the playground was not active for me. While having an active lifestyle is great, dedicating time to exercise offers mental and emotional rewards beyond a busy lifestyle.
At the core of many excuses is this idea: exercise isn’t fun, comfortable, or enjoyable. I believe the best exercise is one you look forward to. It took trying different activities to find what suited my current needs. No treadmill running if you dislike it, no yoga if it’s not your style.
That’s not to say exercise shouldn’t challenge you or leave you sore—it should help you grow and improve. But it’s not meant to be a punishment. Find something challenging that also makes you feel better every day.
I’m thrilled I stopped letting excuses control me. After a year feeling out of touch with myself, I finally feel like me again. Our bodies are amazing, and we have the right to move and experience the world in them. Don’t let excuses hold you back from reaching your potential.
What’s your go-to excuse? What’s your favorite way to stay active? Share your thoughts!
