Being physically active is important, and yet, it can be hard to get into the routine of exercising regularly. People give all sorts of reasons for not exercising: not enough time, not enough energy, no workout buddy, and no motivation.  The good news is that people are constantly coming up with ways to get through these barriers. Charity exercise apps are one new solution trying to help people who can’t find the motivation to exercise. They include apps like Charity Miles, stick, Run4Good, Impact: Fitness & Charity, and others. 

Here’s the idea: 

• you download the app, 
• select the charity you want to support, and 
• earn money for that charity based on how much you move. 

These apps are based on the idea that people might be more motivated to exercise if that exercise brings in money for causes they find important. Imagine you are at home on the couch considering whether you want to go for a walk that evening. You might be more motivated to exercise if you know your walk is going to make sure that money goes to a cause near and dear to your heart. If you have been struggling with motivation, this might be a great way to get yourself going! However, it is good to have all the information before signing up. 

Here are a few things to know if you are considering a charity exercise app:

Whose money is the app going to use?

Some of the apps rely on donations from companies or other sponsors. Generally for these apps, your exercise helps determine which charities are supported by the donated money.  Others ask you to put your own money on the line. For these, the amount raised is based on how much money the people using the app donate. 

What kind of data is the app collecting? 

In some cases, the app might be collecting information about you like your email, age, gender, where you exercise, and the types of activities you record when you exercise. The privacy policy and terms of use will let you know what kind of information the company is collecting. They may use the information they collect to improve the app, advertise products to you, or even sell to third parties. For some people, they are willing to share this data so they can use the app. For others, it is more important to protect their data and privacy. Either way, you want to have all the information so you can decide for yourself. 

What kinds of exercises will earn money? 

Some apps only allow users to track their miles. This means they are a better fit for walkers, runners, and bikers. Other apps allow users to record minutes spent doing different types of activity and then they convert those minutes into points, miles, or some other unit that decides how much money will be donated. 

So, if you are struggling to find the motivation to lace up those sneakers and get moving, maybe a charity exercise app could help you get going! Just make sure you have all the information before signing up.