It may seem like an impossible barrier to exercise if you have ADHD. You’re on your toes one day, and the next you’ve forgotten what excitement was ever about. Your gym membership? You haven’t touched it once. It’s not that you don’t wish to move; it’s staying at it that’s such a challenge.
However, physical activity doesn’t have to be dull. Here are five exercise tips for ADHD to stay active while feeling effortless and in your rhythm.
1. Choose Activities Based on Your Energy and Mood Stage
Some people are excellent at slow yoga; others must have a different preference. If your level of energy can go up and down, then you’ll need something that engages you—be it dancing, boxing, martial arts, or even basketball. Try to do something fun—not a duty.
According to CHADD, people with ADHD usually can better handle exercises that involve coordination and concentration. Their attention will be caught by this kind of activity, and they will then have something active to do, which will help do away with restlessness.
2. Keep Workouts Short and Simple
You don’t need an hour of exercise to feel good. Ten or fifteen minutes of exercise can effectively elevate your mood and promote mental clarity. Such shorter workouts are easier to keep up, and you’re not even halfway through before you’re bored.
A study found that people suffering from ‘adult ADHD’ in all likelihood would be helped by merely 15 minutes of moderate cycling. So if you’re pressed for time or simply short on patience, this might be just the thing needed.
3. Connect It to Something You Already Do
The hardest part for most people is starting. So put your workout “on top” of something you do already every day. Get up from cleaning and do a few stretches. Are you heading out for lunch? Take a walk. Do 30 jumping jacks while the coffee brews.
This trick is called “habit stacking.” It works because you don’t have to work out anything new. Healthline mentions that joining a brand-new habit with an old one makes it easier to remember and more likely to repeat. It’s better if you don’t have to think about it too much.
4. Make It Social or Add a Little Friendly Competition
If you find it too hard to work out alone, try bringing a friend with you. You can also try to bring someone else, like a sibling or even a pet, if you want.
You can not only enjoy your walk at the same time but also sign up for some of the fitness classes held in your neighborhood or easily follow an online workout.
According to the American Psychological Association, people with ADHD often do best under external motivation. That could mean having a workout buddy, taking part in a team challenge, or using a fitness app with goals. Converting exercise into a shared experience adds fun and responsibility.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Start Over (Again and Again)
There will be days when you miss a workout. Missing a workout at any time is not a disaster. With ADHD, things may not always happen as you plan, but the situation is no cause for failure.
Exercise has been proven to help people with ADHD improve their self-control and focus, but only when it is part of their lifestyle.
If you find that your usual routine is yielding less than fab results, you might want to try making a few changes. Maybe put on some different music, change the time of day you exercise, or move your workout to another place. Being able to adapt to new situations is a point of strength.
You Don’t Need a Perfect Plan; Just Start Moving
You are not a slacker. Even so, you’re not broken. You just need a different way to make exercise work for you. A walk around the block, a dance break in your kitchen, or a few push-ups can shift your mood and help you focus.
These five tips aren’t about being perfect. They’re about finding what feels right for you. That might mean doing something different every day, and that’s fine.
