Review: I Know I Should Exercise, But...: 44 Reasons We Don't Move and How to Get Over Them by Diana Hill and Katy Bowman

I Know I Should Exercise, But...: 44 Reasons We Don't Move and How to Get Over Them by Diana Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This book was timely as I've been struggling for several years to get back into my pre-covid exercise routine.  Prior to the pandemic, I went to spinning class 2-3 times a week before work without fail and loved it.  Then everything shut down, I hurt my back, and I've never been able to get back into a routine where I prioritized self-care and exercise.  Classes aren't at times I can fit in my schedule around work and kids.  Now I find myself so mentally exhausted at the end of the day after getting the teenagers off to school, working 8-10 hours, doing chores and family time, that I just don't have anything left at the end of the day to give to my self.  The book addresses the difference between mental exhaustion and physical exhaustion and that really resonated with me.  It also addresses the struggle with knowing that I need to exercise and the guilt that comes with knowing that I'll sleep better if I do and I'll be heathier for it but I don't have the energy to do it.  It is a vicious cycle, but the book has given me some tips and motivation to hopefully break out of it.  The authors address taking baby steps to change your mindset and align movement with your values and goals.  They address the many excuses we have for not moving and several of them really hit home for me and are things I know I can do to make small changes and get some movement in during my workday or before or after I start my day.  They address the need for physical movement for not only physical health but better mental clarity and many other benefits as well.  

I enjoyed the common sense approach and hearing realistic things I and many others can do to make small changes that can become effective ways to get movement into our day that we all desperately need especially when sitting at a computer all day.  They also address those who have more physically demanding jobs and different ways to take care of your body if you are standing all day.

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