Walk whenever you can

Make it easier for yourself

“I think part of developing a good exercise plan for each of us is knowing ourselves well, knowing what’s feasible,” says Carter. And that includes knowing what’s not realistic for you.

So if you hate running, don’t run just because it’s trendy or someone tells you it’s good for you, says Carter. Or if you’re not a morning person, then don’t plan to exercise in the morning.

And remember, she adds, “getting started is the hardest part.” Don’t blame yourself if you’re struggling to get started. It’s important to have compassion on yourself. “One tenet of self-compassion is this common humanity, that we all struggle at this,” she says.

Try to think of ways that would make it more likely you’ll stick to workout plan, perhaps by building in some external accountability. She suggests arranging with a friend to call or text each other at an agreed on time to spur each other to take a walk or run. Carter used to do it with her friend in the morning, she says and “that would get us going and have that accountability.”

Walk whenever you can

Start by just walking more, says Molly McDonald, a certified personal trainer with Corporate Fitness Works, who I also train with.

“I’ve told a lot of people, if you have space … in your house, walk room to room, use your stairs,” she says. “And if you don’t have stairs, just walking room to room, back and forth, getting those extra steps.”