Everyone knows about the health benefits of exercise, even if we don’t all do it. Those that do often force themselves to attend the gym or go running rain, hail or shine, but they don’t like it. The trouble with exercise is it is boring. As soon as you hop on that exercise bike you think of something that you could be doing that’s more fun, or else you suddenly remember that you haven’t watered the garden, lawn, pot plants, dog, cat or children.

So off you hop and by the time you’ve done all that it is far too late to start pushing pedals again. Oh darn, it’s time to put tea on, feed the toddler, oversee homework – such fun – and get the kids to bed. After all that’s done you have to stack the dishwasher, wash the floors and windows, pack lunches for tomorrow – and anything else you can think of that is not riding that bike, right?

If that is you, come right out and confess it; then give up altogether on ‘exercising’. Instead, you could go dancing. How good would that be to sway to some romantic music with your partner. But what about learning a different kind of dancing, like salsa, ballroom, square dancing or any of those more vigorous dances. If you love dancing you are sure to like those too. And don’t tell anyone, but you would actually be exercising too.

What if you absolutely adore dogs, but can’t have one. Life sucks, sometimes. But you could have a part time job walking dogs for other people. That way you would get to spend time with your favourite kind of animal and get some exercise into the bargain. Walking is said to be the best kind of exercise there is. Can’t stand dogs? Don’t despair.

You might like looking at beautiful gardens. Get a group together and go visit some of the wonderful Botanic Gardens that are available in most cities and towns. Or walk around the streets to enjoy other people’s gardens. Look at all the exercise you’ll be getting that you won’t even think about as you admire those fantastic flowers.

There are many fun sports or hobbies you can indulge in that will also exercise and tone your body, so there is no need to force yourself to ride an exercise bike if you hate it, or do any other kind of ‘exercise’ if you find it boring. If you do, you will soon begin to make excuses not to do it and then you won’t be getting enough exercise to keep you healthy.

Life is too short to do things that are boring or distasteful. But if you fill your life with fun things to do, you will find that you are getting plenty of exercise without even thinking about it.