Confession: I never really liked sports. As a child and teenager, I was the type who hoped to skip PE class (especially the “beep test”—#IYKYK). To me, exercise was a chore: often unpleasant, rarely fun. Then, in early adulthood, I discovered that working out at the gym with friends helped me relieve school-related stress. It was bearable, but even then, I never went consistently. Now in my thirties, I’m discovering new sports and an active lifestyle that actually suits me—finally! But how did such a drastic change happen? How did I—someone who was always glued to a screen—become “sporty”?! Here is my recipe; I hope it works for you, too!

Knowing your interests, your reality, and your obstacles

With a very busy schedule, I knew it would be hard to find time for exercise—and even harder to commit to it. For a long time, I looked for a formula that would let me have fun while moving, while also making me *want* to keep at it week after week. Here are the questions to ask yourself to identify the sports and activities that fit your lifestyle.

First, you need to consider what you would prefer:

• a fixed schedule at a specific location (e.g., a Zumba class every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the community center)
• a flexible schedule with the option to work out at home (e.g., an online yoga platform)
• a hybrid approach (some gyms offer memberships that include both gym access and an online platform for home workouts)
• a ​​monthly or annual membership, a no-commitment plan, etc.
• exercising at little to no cost
• group activities versus solo workouts (do you prefer the motivational aspect of a group, or the focus and peace of being alone?)
• the time of day you prefer to be active

There is no single perfect option; it really depends on your preferences, needs, and goals.

Personally, the “home workout” approach works very well for gentler forms of exercise like Pilates or yoga, which I can do late in the evening without having to leave the house. On the other hand, for more intense training, I’ve tried memberships that let you work out whenever you want—and, surprise surprise, I barely got my money’s worth; it’s so easy to come up with excuses to skip a workout.

That’s why a fixed schedule works perfectly for me: I put my workout class on the calendar, and I have no excuse not to go! It becomes an appointment with myself (or a friend), and I actually look forward to it.

Finding your motivation: the driving force behind it all

Psychology tells us there are two types of motivation: intrinsic (coming from within) and extrinsic (coming from outside sources). The sources of motivation and reasons for exercising are endless: being able to carry your grandchildren, running a 5K with colleagues, improving at a sport you love, and so on.

It is important to identify realistic and healthy reasons for exercising. I find it incredibly sad to hear people—often women—say they “have to” exercise to “lose weight.” While a full explanation is beyond the scope of this article, I will simply say that, in my view, this is not a good reason to exercise. It is easy to become discouraged by setting goals that are too vague or practically impossible to achieve. Such goals are a guaranteed source of discouragement and limit the joy one can find in physical activity.

Exercise for women: an essential activity that isn’t recommended enough

There are so many wonderful sources of motivation, but I believe one in particular should be top of mind: aging healthily. Working on flexibility, stability, and strength helps fortify bones and joints, preventing premature, age-related injuries.

Women are at particular risk of developing osteoporosis and lose 3% to 5% of their muscle mass starting at age 30. It is therefore especially important for them to engage in exercise that includes strength training to improve bone density. This helps prevent injuries later in life.

In a world that encourages women to be skinny and promotes absurd diets, eating well and exercising to build a strong body is something of a revolution in itself—and, above all, it ensures you age in the best possible way.

How did Marika, the beauty blogger, become a gym bro (or close to it)

My personal motivation? At the start of the year, my body sent me clear signals that I needed to take better care of it. It was a real wake-up call to be in that state at such a young age—though, “fortunately,” the issues stemmed “only” from poor posture and muscle weakness. That red flag my body raised acted like a jolt. I decided to focus on “repairing” my body through physiotherapy sessions. Since I was lucky enough that the damage was reversible, I was truly determined to incorporate exercise into my life to strengthen my body and never experience that debilitating pain again.

My motivation, then, is to ensure I never find myself suffering like that again due to a lack of physical activity. Now that it’s behind me, I really enjoy pushing my limits—improving my cardio, building muscle, and burning off stress on the treadmill! I see nothing but positives in working out, and I love the aspect of personal growth. Who knows what my next goal will be? Running a 10K, completing a HYROX race, trying my hand at Muay Thai… so many possibilities!

Stepping off the beaten path to find the sport that’s right for you

When we think of exercise, we often picture the gym. While that works wonders for some people, it just doesn’t suit my style; the mirrors everywhere, the harsh lighting, and the loud music—staples of many gyms—intimidate me. I’ve tried working out at a gym before, but I felt clueless about the machines and unsure of which routine to follow. Worst of all, I felt surrounded by gym “experts” watching and judging me. I worry about getting injured, and I simply don’t feel like I belong there. If you can relate, keep reading—I promise it’s still possible to love working out!

There are so many ways to get moving and have fun doing it! Once you’ve figured out the logistics that work for you—like the schedule, membership type, and location—think about the intensity and style of exercise you’d enjoy. Yoga, Pilates, dance, Zumba, martial arts, swimming… the possibilities are endless! And that’s not to mention seasonal activities like skiing, kayaking, hiking, and more. Find a sport that sparks your curiosity and give it a try!

The sports that truly won me over and got me hooked

Pilates – reformer and mat

A few years ago, a friend introduced me to reformer Pilates. Originally designed to rehabilitate injured soldiers, this type of workout gently strengthens the body while improving flexibility, balance, and so much more. I really enjoy going to my local Pilates studio with my friend; I love these moments in my week that combine socializing with self-care! If you’re looking for an extra challenge or have already reached a solid level in reformer Pilates, I highly recommend trying mat Pilates. By combining breathing techniques with strengthening exercises, you leave the class feeling both zen and like you’ve had a great workout.

Martial arts and self-defence

A colleague introduced us to martial arts at work by offering lunchtime self-defence and karate classes. I had always been curious about this type of sport but never had the chance—or the courage—to try it. Since I had no idea how to defend myself, the desire to feel safer was what initially motivated me to take the classes with my colleague. I quickly fell in love with karate, too; it’s a martial art that engages the body, certainly, but also challenges the mind immensely. Now, I enjoy this lunchtime workshop so much that it’s the highlight of my day: I want to perfect my movements, improve my kicking range, and—who knows—maybe even earn my black belt one day! Having taken my first steps into the world of martial arts, I now want to try boxing, Muay Thai, and anything else that lets me release frustration and blow off some steam!

A different kind of gym workout

I wanted to complement my other physical activities with a workout focused more on cardio and strength training. I had long considered going back to the gym, but the idea never really took off because I honestly just wasn’t interested. That is, until a friend told me about her gym: a group circuit-training class where everyone works at their own pace—mixing cardio, strength training, and endurance work—all under the supervision of a coach (you might recognize it as Orangetheory Fitness!). I was really intrigued and knew the format would work for me: the solo workout aspect combined with the motivation and energy of a group; the flexibility to choose the time of day, yet the commitment of booking a class for a specific slot. I was sold.

I signed up and have been going regularly since the spring of 2026, and I absolutely love it. I’ve never enjoyed working out this much; I leave every class all smiles (and very sweaty!), I’ve met inspiring people, and I’d go every day if my schedule allowed! Me, actually liking the gym? I never would have thought it possible. What I love about the gyms I go to is the genuinely supportive atmosphere and the diverse clientele—people of all ages, body types, and stages of their fitness journey. Plus, the only competition is with yourself; everyone else is there solely to support one another. Pretty great, right?

Pushing your limits, reinventing yourself, and breaking boundaries

Reflecting recently on why I enjoy working out so much—despite having always hated it—I pinpointed a key factor: pushing my own limits. I’m not saying you have to aim to run a marathon; for me, simply starting to hate exercise a little less counts as pushing past my boundaries. When I notice even a slight improvement in my cardio or muscle strength, I feel proud and impressed with myself. I’m becoming a version of myself I never thought possible. And the bar keeps getting raised—week by week, month by month—if you want to ramp up the intensity of your workouts! I feel that as adults, we rarely get the chance to push our limits in our daily lives; sports offer a wonderful way to experience that.

Small tips that make a big difference

If working out intimidates you or feels like a huge challenge, bring a friend along! There’s nothing quite like sharing major life milestones with friends, and I can promise you that sweating it out together while cheering each other on leads to fits of laughter and strengthens your bond. Alternatively, finding an “accountability partner”—someone to motivate you to exercise—can be a winning strategy. Personally, I quickly realized that my motivation had to come from within, but that approach can certainly work for others!

Want to explore different types of physical activities to find the one you love? Subscriptions like ClassPass let you try out various fitness studios with no long-term commitment.

If you love fashion as much as I do, there’s nothing more motivating than picking out workout gear that’s as stylish as it is practical! I love putting together looks that make me feel like a fitness pro—it really gets me fired up. “Fake it ’til you make it,” right? Plus, there’s so much beautiful activewear out there; it’s hard to resist!

Keeping a progress journal to see how far you’ve come is another great source of motivation; it really highlights the milestones of pushing your limits. I totally get that we don’t always feel like working out—we all have a thousand excuses to put it off. Finding the motivation to get started is honestly the hardest part; once you’re moving, the rest is fun. One workout turns into two, then quickly six, then ten, until it becomes a solid habit in your routine.

Document your journey to remind yourself that you’ve overcome every tough moment, every hesitation, and every urge to quit—and that you’ve reached a point you once thought impossible. Personally, I love posting Instagram stories to share my pride and inspire others in return. It serves as both my journal and my accountability partner—and, I won’t deny it, it’s also my way of showing off my outfits!

It takes a village

There is a theme I’ve been touching on throughout this article without explicitly naming it yet: community. No, not the Fellowship of the Ring (but almost), but the community that surrounds you as you learn to love exercise and supports you through every workout. Whether it’s friends cheering you on, social media followers, colleagues you chat with about your fitness discoveries, or—even better—coaches and fellow athletes at your training facility, it is pure gold!

So, here are the magic ingredients that made me fall in love with exercise in my thirties: seeing my body capable of doing more than I imagined; doing Pilates with a friend (we improve, laugh, and suffer together!); practicing karate with a colleague who pushes me to go beyond my limits; and training at a gym where they know my name and genuinely care about my progress! That is the real recipe for starting to hate exercise a little less.

I hope you, too, find your village—a group that supports and celebrates you—so you can discover that exercise isn’t actually such a chore!