14 7. Foreseeable Barriers
UGA PEDB Program
A barrier is an obstacle which may hinder you from achieving your goals. Unfortunately, at one point in time we may experience a specific barrier to achieving our goals or even just being physically active, so it is important we are aware of what they are, so we can then overcome them.
Identifying what could prevent you from reaching your goal will better prepare you to overcome these factors when they present themselves. For example, if you know there is not enough time in a day to get everything done after class or you are too exhausted to exercise at the end of the day, perhaps you should plan to workout first thing in the morning. This way, no matter what the day presents you with, you will get your workout in and achieve your goals. This is called being stronger than your excuses.
To find out what your barriers may be, click on the link below and take the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Barriers to Being Active Quiz. Upon completing the quiz, you will see different barriers such as:
- Limited time
- Lack of motivation
- Social influence
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/ndep/pdfs/8-road-to-health-barriers-quiz-508.pdf
Now that you know your barrier(s), it is essential you also know what some of the solutions are. The CDC also provides many solutions for overcoming your barriers such as:
- Planning ahead
- Invite family and friends to exercise with you
- Select activities requiring minimal time, equipment, and risk
https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adding-pa/barriers.html