Introducing or re-introducing an exercise routine can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Setting yourself up for success is the key to a long lasting and satisfying relationship with movement.

Here are a few things to consider before getting started:

Give yourself room for flexibility

Start small and ditch the all or nothing mentality. A little exercise is all you need to start, in fact, even adding very small amounts of activity to your routine will have a significant impact on your well being. Remember, to build a routine you can maintain, you have to want to do the work.

Ditch the negative self-talk

Giving yourself a hard time about your physical abilities or appearance is a waste of time and energy, of which you could be using to get stronger! Research actually shows that having compassion for yourself increases your chances of success.

Set realistic goals

It can be tempting to set high expectations when starting a new health regime. Be careful to set realistic goals, otherwise they may be detrimental to your progress. Set your focus on consistency to start and the results will follow. Immediately, you will see an improvement in mood and heightened energy levels. Use these gains to fuel your motivation until you see physical results.

If you’re looking for a way to ease activity into your schedule try this cool down stretch routine or this fun household activities turned exercise routine that you can do from the comfort of your own home!