Surrey Homes | SH74 | March 2021 | Interiors supplement inside

Wellbeing
Set a routine
Sarah Maxwell explains how to keep motivation
levels high when enthusiasm for exercise is flagging
How can you convince yourself
to get up and exercise at
home when all you want to
do is lie on the sofa and watch Netflix?
Pencil it in the diary
For many of us, our weekly routines
have been constantly changing since the
start of the pandemic. So finding time
to schedule work out sessions into your
diary at the beginning of the week can
give you a structure and positive plan
to keep you on track. You will soon
appreciate the wonderful feeling of
accomplishment you get from ticking
off an exercise you’d planned to do at
the beginning of the week – and it’s
infectious, you’ll want to do it again!
Put on some tunes!
In the morning if you’re feeling tired
and not in the mood to workout, one
of the best ways I’ve found to motivate
myself and get into a positive frame of
mind is to put on fun, uplifting music
during breakfast. I can’t quite explain
why, but blasting loud music as soon
as you get up instantly puts you into a
good mood. Recent studies have also
shown that putting something on with
a fast beat, can raise your heart rate and
release those endorphins (the happy
hormones). Put on the radio or your
favourite playlist and it will help you
wake up, I promise. I don’t think my
children are overly impressed with my
Dolly Parton 9 to 5 routine though!
Get outside
If you’are lucky enough to be able
to go outside for a short walk, it
really has such a great effect on your
physical and mental wellbeing. Even
though we may forget it at times,
we all need fresh air and light on a
regular basis. Going out for a walk,
especially on a dull and miserable day
when it’s easy to feel trapped inside,
is guaranteed to lift your spirits.
If you can’t get outside at the
moment, this is a quick workout I do
for myself at home a few times a week
Start by gentle movements, lifting
shoulders up and down. A general
dance around for a couple of minutes,
getting the blood flowing. (This is
where Dolly Parton comes in.)
Fast run on the spot (or frantically
around the kitchen) – 20 seconds.
Squats x20.
Press Ups on worktop or floor x20.
Star Jumps x20.
Rest for 30 seconds and repeat
between 3-6 rounds.
Once I’ve done this, I throw myself
down onto the floor and do front
and side planks, holding each for
30 seconds, followed by some nice
long stretches. If I can do this three
times a week it keeps me feeling
energised and generally a lot brighter.
As a trainer, you may have this
idea in your head that I’m constantly
exercising. I’m not, honestly. I spend a
lot of time at my desk training clients
online, planning schedules, it’s not as
active as you’d think. I have to make
sure I set aside time to workout too
because the lure of some great period
dramas on TV has had me falling in
love with my sofa. Trust me, I’m not
an obsessed gym bunny who gets
excited about working out. I exercise
to feel good, not to punish myself!
Lastly, don’t scare yourself with
setting unrealistic goals and punishing
yourself if you don’t workout every day.
I genuinely believe that every tiny step
you take towards a healthier lifestyle
is a great one, every little helps!
Sarah Maxwell is a multiple awardwinning
Fitness and Lifestyle coach
and mum of two who juggles a lot
of balls. Find out more about Sarah
and her work at sarahmaxwell.com
Sarah shares her Fitness and Lifestyle tips
on Instagram @sarahmaxwelllifestyle
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