Starting Out: Tips for Beginning Physical Activity
Keeping Motivated
- Aim for a goal: It might be walking a certain distance or being active for a certain number of days a month.
- Try clipping on a pedometer to count your steps (available at sports shoe stores).
- You might like to try an event. There are lots of team events, "women-only" events and some "men-only" events designed for fun and participation.
- Write down what you plan to do and write what you did – see below for a sophisticated way of doing this.
- Get a friend or family member to be active with you – you'll have twice the fun and can encourage each other.
ActiveSmart: A Training Plan Just For You!
ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) have developed a great new website called ActiveSmart that gives you a personalised online training plan. It gives you advice on what to do and helps you keep track of what you have done. It is great for keeping you motivated and best of all it is easy to use and it's FREE!!
Other Ways to Keep Motivated
Activity Diary: Your own 12 month diary with free ideas, programmes and encouragement. [PDF, 1.2MB]
Map My Run: Draw your run (or walk) route on a map to find out the distance, or find info about a local run that has alrady been "mapped".