There are many reasons why people want to start running. It can provide a variety of both mental and physical benefits. Even though it might seem simple, running has become more important than ever. The way we live our lives has changed a lot, and we are lazier than ever.

More precisely, we are constantly sitting down, stuck in front of our mobile screens and computers. Many jobs involve sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours and, for most people, the routine at home is pretty much identical. This kind of lifestyle has a lot of downsides, and running is one of the best ways to deal with them.

Since we all have busy lives with our tight schedules, no one has the time to exercise every day, but running can give you more health benefits in less time than any other physical activity.

Even if you know all these things, it can be really difficult to motivate yourself to actually start running. Here are some of the ways you can approach this problem.

Start walking more

If you are really out of shape and haven’t run for a long time, just thinking about yourself doing it might feel awkward. Apart from that, your muscles are probably way out of shape. This is why it’s probably a good idea to start walking first.

Start off with short distances when going to the grocery store, to work, or to your friend’s home. Do this for about a month and grab every opportunity you can to walk rather than drive or take a cab.

Not only will you prepare yourself for running and get used to standing on your feet for long periods, but you will also save money.

Walking is a good way to develop an exercise habit. Try to have a “regular” tempo when walking, don’t try to race-walk, but also don’t window-shop. The important thing for this step is to get your leg muscles active and to overcome that initial mental barrier.

Just do it

You can think about it all you want, ask people for their opinion, and read tips online, but if you don’t push yourself to go out running regularly, you won’t get anywhere. As we’ve mentioned before, the most important thing is to create a habit of running frequently.

You have to push through it and make yourself go out every day and put in the work. Don’t think about what you should do, how long you should run at first, and other things. Just make yourself go out and run for as long as it feels right, nothing more.

Start by going out one day and running as much as you can. Try to do this for several days, and each time you are able to accomplish your daily routine, you will feel better and be more motivated to get back into it once again.

Run through remote areas

One of the biggest issues for people that want to start running is that they are afraid of other people seeing them do it. They feel awkward, clumsy, and it seems like everyone who sees them is laughing at them. If you are having these kinds of issues as well, you should consider running through an area where there aren’t many people.

Consider the best places closest to your home where you can run through a relatively empty street and where you won’t feel uncomfortable because of other people. Try running there and see how you feel about it.

This is how you can freely test your physical skills and remind yourself of what it feels like to be active. It doesn’t matter if you can run for a few minutes or less, there won’t be anyone around you to make you feel uncomfortable or make you feel unsafe.

Find running buddies

Everything’s better when you do it with other people. The same rule applies to exercise and running. This is especially true if you are feeling weird about running. When you have others running along with you, and when you’re all into the same thing, everything will feel more natural and normal.

Yes, running isn’t anything unnatural, but when you haven’t done it in a while and you don’t have the necessary confidence, you won’t feel good about it. Group activities have always been empowering, even when it comes to running, so try to make the best of it. Try to find people that you can do this activity with.

It doesn’t matter if you go running with your friends, partner, family members, or you find a group of people that run frequently. When you try doing this with other people, you feel much better, as they will give you the courage and motivation you need.

When all is said and done, it’s up to you to make the decision to go through with it and do something that’s good for your health. Remember that running has many positive benefits both for your physical and mental health.