Six ways to stay motivated for exercise

Do you lack motivation to exercise?

You are not alone. We all have that conversation in our head, sometimes. You know, the one that says "I need to do some exercise today, but you know what, I just don't feel like it"

Don't despair! Motivation is possibly the biggest determining factor when it comes to a successful exercise program. Your level of motivation can make or break your plans. Try some of the following ideas to maximise your exercise program adherence:

Tip One: Long term motivation comes from within…

Know ‘why’ you are performing the exercise program and identify the steps that you will be taking by setting specific and realistic goals that have specific meaning to you. If they are very clear and you feel 100% committed to their achievement then nothing will get in the way of your success. Your subconscious mind works like a heat-seeking missile; it will always hit what it is aiming for. So guarantee your level of exercise success by;

Pursuing activities that you feel passionate about.

Tip Two: A stitch in time saves nine…

If we fail to plan, we plan to fail. At the beginning of each training day, decide what exercise you are going to perform, for how long and at what time. Also remember to ensure you have the right equipment or support that you need. That way, when it is time to take action, you will not have to think about it – you can just turn up and get on with it.

Tip Three: Incorporate fun and variety into your program…

Developing a variety of fun and interesting activities in your program will help you reduce boredom. Fun and variety also reduce the chances of you dropping out and ensures that you have a holistic and well-balanced program that guarantees on-going results. Try an outdoor group class one day, a boxing session the next to provide you with added stimulus and to further ignite your results and motivation.

Tip Four: Train with a friend, group or personal trainer…

Identifying a like-minded person or group of people in your life that has similar exercise goals and that you enjoy training with will support you to achieve your goals a lot faster. Even better, you and your friend(s) may want to hire a personal trainer for a period of time, they will tailor a program specific to your needs, keep you accountable, inspire you to train harder and best of all (unlike your friends) will never miss a session because they don’t feel like it.

Tip Five: Acknowledge Yourself…

Often we get caught up in the things that we haven’t achieved in our lives, which take our focus away from what is really happening.

If you are struggling to see any personal progress with your exercise routine, then I recommend writing a list of everything positive you have achieved with it so far, such as; your healthier diet, your ability to train harder for longer, your reduced alcohol intake, your higher libido and even your better sleep quality. This will quickly give you a different perspective on your exercise program and the progress you are making toward your goals.

Tip Six: Celebrate Your Success…

Perhaps the best way to acknowledge yourself is to reward yourself every time you achieve a significant goal. Rewarding yourself builds motivation and confidence. For example, if you manage to train 3 times this week. CELEBRATE! You deserve it!

Here’s to you increased motivation and much awaited return to a successful and fun training program.

Andrew McCombe (BPhEd)
www.activateyourlife.com.au