Final answer:
A person who has been exercising for less than 6 months is in the Action stage of change, where they are actively trying to change a behavior, in this case by incorporating regular exercise into their life.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a person has been exercising but for less than 6 months, they are in the Action stage of change. The stages of change, part of the Transtheoretical Model, include Precontemplation (Stage 1), Contemplation (Stage 2), Preparation (Stage 3), Action (Stage 4), and Maintenance (Stage 5). The Action stage is characterized by the individual actively engaging in a behavior to change a problem, such as exercising regularly. Although the change is recent and the individual has not yet reached the stage where the behavior has been well-established over a longer period, which would be classified under the Maintenance stage.
Being kind to oneself and gradually increasing exercise time, starting with activities such as taking a walk around the neighborhood, supports this progress in the Action stage. Rewarding yourself for reaching small exercise goals is also an important way to reinforce positive behaviors and maintain motivation.