The Lily Project. Day 1. My daughter Lily and I are doing an experiment in trying to increase quantity of exercise in the life of a busy college student. She is the willing guinea pig, and we realize this deep scientific experiment has an n=1. But our hope is that we discover some tricks to help people move more during their busy days - or even not so busy days. I thought we would begin by asking ChatGPT a simple question; How can I motivate my daughter to exercise more often?
ChatGPT replied with some sound advice. Once we received the answers, we added more details about Lily being a college student and enjoying tennis and hiking. So this is what ChatGPT had to say;
1. Focus on Fun, Not Fitness
- Let her choose: Give her options—dance, swimming, hiking, martial arts, team sports, or even just walking the dog.
- Make it social: Invite friends or family to join. Many kids are more motivated when it feels like playtime rather than a workout.
- Gamify it: Try fitness games (like Just Dance, Ring Fit Adventure) or use activity trackers with step goals.
🧠 2. Shift the Mindset
- Avoid pressure: Encourage activity as a fun part of life, not a chore or punishment.
- Celebrate effort, not outcome: Say things like “You looked like you were having so much fun!” or “It’s awesome how you kept moving!”
- Set shared goals: Make it a team effort—“Let’s both get 30 minutes of movement today.”
📅 3. Build It into the Routine
- Create a schedule: Routine helps. Maybe a bike ride after school or a Saturday nature walk.
- Start small: Even 10–15 minutes a day is a great start—consistency is more important than duration.
💖 4. Connect It to What She Loves
- Music lover? Suggest dance classes or make custom playlists for workouts.
- Animal lover? Volunteer at an animal shelter that needs dog walkers.
- Competitive spirit? Try sports or family step challenges.
- Creative type? Encourage yoga, roller skating, or active photography walks.
🧍♀️ 5. Be a Role Model
- Let her see you enjoy movement. Invite her along—but don’t push. Modeling behavior is powerful.
🛑 Common Pitfalls to Avoid:
- Don’t link exercise to weight or appearance.
- Avoid guilt-tripping or making it feel like a duty.
- Don’t compare her to others—especially peers or siblings.
If you'd like ideas specific to her age, personality, or what she’s currently into, feel free to share a bit more and I can tailor suggestions even more.
You said:
How can I motive my college age daughter to exercise more frequently? She enjoys tennis, walking and time with friends.
ChatGPT said:
That’s really helpful to know—your daughter already has some great building blocks: she likes tennis, walking, and social time. The key is to tap into those existing interests and gently support her in creating habits around them—without making it feel like pressure. Here’s how you can approach it:
🎾 1. Leverage Her Love for Tennis
- Encourage regular matchups: Suggest she join a recreational tennis league or intramural team at her college. Many campuses have clubs or courts available for students.
- Set up friendly competition: If she's back home sometimes, challenge her to a match or invite family friends for doubles.
- Help her find a tennis buddy: A friend who also enjoys tennis can make it much easier to stick with.
🚶♀️ 2. Make Walking Social and Habitual
- Walking + Friends = Win: Suggest she invite a friend for regular walks around campus, at a nearby park, or after dinner. This makes it feel like social time, not “exercise.”
- Podcasts or audiobooks: If she enjoys solo walks, suggest pairing them with a favorite podcast or audiobook to make the time fly.
- Build walking into routines: Encourage her to walk to classes or do errands on foot if it's feasible. Bonus: It's a built-in stress reliever.
🧍♀️ 3. Social Motivation Works Wonders
- Group fitness classes: These can be fun and low-pressure, especially if she brings a friend. Many colleges offer free or discounted classes like yoga, Zumba, or spin.
- Roommate accountability: If she lives with others, she could invite them to join her for a weekly tennis session, walk, or workout—something casual but recurring.
📱 4. Light Tech Support (If She Likes That)
- Fitness apps: Something like Strava, Fitbit, or Apple Fitness can make walking or tennis feel more engaging—especially if she can compete with or cheer on friends.
- Habit trackers: Gamify the habit by helping her set a low-pressure weekly goal—like “3 days of movement per week”—and track it visually.
💡 5. Help Her Connect to Her Own Why
Rather than suggesting exercise for general health, frame it around benefits she likely cares about now:
- “It might help you feel less stressed before exams.”
- “I noticed how energized you seem after you’ve played tennis—what do you like most about it?”
- “Walking with friends sounds like the perfect way to catch up and get fresh air.”
✅ Gentle Encouragement from You
- Offer to buy her a cute workout outfit or tennis gear if that motivates her.
- Send her a new playlist you made just for walking or tennis warmups.
- Celebrate small wins—“That’s awesome you got in a few matches this week!”
