How to Increase Stamina

The human body can get used to a sedentary or inactive lifestyle. Low energy levels can affect your physical and mental performance. Increasing your stamina is about more that just building muscle or increasing strength. It is about the energy produced from activity. Try these helpful tips to increase your stamina and enjoy a more active lifestyle.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Set some goals for yourself. Do you want to increase your energy, build muscle or increase your strength and endurance?

2. Develop a training plan that is reasonable and achievable. To increase your stamina, you have to start small and gradually move up to the level you desire.

3. Begin your plan with walking. Walking can improve the efficiency of your heart and lungs, increase your energy level, strengthen the muscles in your legs and help promote a good night's rest.

4. Build on your walking by running if this is something you want to do. Some people can't tolerate running as it is harder on your knees and joints than walking.

5. Try riding a bicycle. It is important to find a form of exercise that you enjoy. If you enjoy what you are doing, you increase your chances of success and building on that success.

6. Give swimming a chance as it is a great form of exercise that may surprise you. It is a low-impact form of exercise that tones your entire body and provides a great cardiovascular workout.

7. Push yourself past your limits. Once you begin an activity, you will begin to notice it becomes easier and you feel better both mentally and physically. This is an important key to increasing your stamina.

8. Walk longer distances, walk at a more brisk pace, run or ride your bike a mile farther than last week, swim more laps or increase the weight and/or reps in a strength building workout. Whatever your task, continue to build on it. You will see and feel the results.

Tips & Warnings

• Write down your goals and your plan. Then write down your improvements as you go along so you can visualize the changes you have made.

• Share your plan with a partner that shares your goals. Having an accountability partner will give you both motivation, encouragement and support.

• Make a trip to the athletic department or a sports store. Make sure you have the right equipment and clothing you need to begin your training.

• You should be in overall good health when beginning an exercise routine or strength building workout.

• Sometimes things get worse before they get better, but push through this phase. If you are not used to activity, you may experience soreness and exhaustion as you condition your body.

• Build on your success slowly. You want to push yourself but not cause injury.