How to Find an Exercise You’ll Love

Want to find new fun ways to get moving? You can play a sport, dance, ride your bike …

But for you to stick with it, it's important that you do something you like. If you like doing a certain type of exercise, it'll be fun and you'll keep doing it more. And that's good for your body. To help you stay healthy, be physically active for 1 hour a day. You don't have to do it all at once. Just make sure you're moving all during the day.

George Graham, a long-time PE teacher, says there's 1 thing to remember to make it easier and more fun: "Don't think of it as exercise. Think of it as playing."

How can you find the right activity for you?

Step 1: Think about it.

It's easy to find new fun ways to play and get exercise at the same time. You just need to know yourself. "If you want to exercise more, just think about what you like doing," says Ronda Rose-Kayser, a certified family life educator in Sioux Falls, S.D.It doesn't matter if your dad loves football or you sister is into dance. This is about you.

Think about these 3 things when you're looking for new ways to exercise that will be right for you.

1. Think about what you like about recess or PE at school. And think about what you don't like about PE or recess. Do you like to move fast, or do you like activities where you need to be careful and aim?
2. Think about what you like to do after school and on the weekends.
3. Do you like to do things by yourself, or would you rather be with friends?

Step 2: Pick 1 of these fun ways to exercise.

Now with an idea of your likes and dislikes, check out this list. Do any of these sound like you?

If you like music, try this: Turn on some music and dance. You can even play music while you move in the yard. Try hula-hooping to music or playing musical freeze-tag with friends. Maybe you'd like signing up for a dance class -- anything from jazz to ballet to hip-hop.

If you like being outside, try this: Ask your parents if you can help with yard work: raking leaves, pulling weeds, or shoveling snow are great workouts. While you're out there, have some fun. Try making snow angels or build a snowman. Jump in the leaves before you rake them!

If you like animals, try this: Take your dog for a walk every day. If you don't have a dog, check with your parents to see if it's OK to ask your neighbors if you can walk their dogs. Or volunteer at your local animal shelter, where there are a lot of dogs that need both exercise and a friend. For even more exercise fun, take your dog to the park and play Frisbee. You'll both get a great workout. Not a dog person? Try getting outside and going on a nature walk.

If you like climbing trees, try this: Find out where you can try a climbing wall. As you get better, you might find rock-climbing clubs. There you can learn more skills, stay safe, and make friends. Just make sure to wear protective gear and have an adult with you.

If you get nervous trying new things, try this: Talk with your parents about taking a class in something you've wanted to do -- like ice skating, snowboarding, or skateboarding. And take a friend with you. Ask the teacher if you can try 3 classes before you sign up, to make sure you like doing it.

If you like playing video games, try this: Get active with videos games that get you moving, like PlayStation 3 Move, Wii, or Xbox 360 Kinect. Don't have an active video game? Try standing up while you play your regular game. Move around. Jump when your character jumps. Duck when he ducks. Or just walk in place as you play.

If you don't like competing against other people, try this: Do something where you just compete with yourself. If you're jumping rope, see if you can go 2 minutes without stopping. Tomorrow, try 3 minutes. Or, try games where you don't have to keep score for exercise fun -- like bowling, tennis, or golf.

Step 3: Make yourself a promise.

So you're up for trying a new activity -- maybe jumping rope, Frisbee, or dancing. One more thing before you start -- make yourself a promise. Try a new way of exercising more than once before giving up. The experts say that you should try something at least 3 times before you decide if you like it or not.

Why 3 times? The first time you try something, you may not have a blast or be very good at it -- yet. That's because new skills take practice -- sometimes, a lot of practice. But that's part of the fun of being adventurous and trying something new.

If the first new activity you try isn't your new favorite, keep trying. Take another look at some of the ideas on this list. Ask friends or your parents for ideas. Or get creative and invent your own sport. The right activity for you is out there waiting for you to discover.

Ready to find an exercise you'll love? Here are some games to try. Try This: Fun Backyard Games and Try This: Fun Recess Games