Like many people, staying motivated to exercise can be a real struggle – particularly during the winter months when daylight hours are short and dark. But no matter what season of year it is, finding motivation to get outside and move around the house can be a monumental task!
Thankfully, there are numerous methods to stay motivated and on track. Here are six of them:
Set a Goal
Adia Callahan, certified personal trainer and founder of See Me Wellness, suggests setting goals as a great way to stay motivated while exercising. Setting an achievable target will also help you create an effective routine.
She suggests that setting achievable, specific, SMART goals are the key to staying motivated. These should have a defined time frame, be tailored to your current health status and lifestyle, and ultimately be worthwhile.
Making your goals more achievable requires breaking them into smaller, achievable steps. For instance, instead of setting a general objective like “eat healthier,” try something like “cut out soda or reduce sugar consumption.”
Make Exercise a Part of Your Life
Exercise can be the key to weight loss, improving your moods or just feeling more confident and stronger. Not only that, but exercise also helps prevent various health problems, boosts energy levels and even increases sexual drive!
Exercise can be a chore that we often put off, but it’s essential to make exercise part of our daily regimen. Start small and progress as you gain momentum.
Create triggers into your routine that will remind you to get moving. It could be as easy as leaving sneakers by the door or finding a gym membership that works around your schedule.
Once your routine becomes a part of who you are, it will become second nature. So focus on making it enjoyable and rewarding!
Make it Fun
One of the best ways to stay motivated while exercising is by making it enjoyable. Incorporating exciting activities into your workout regimen can make exercise more enjoyable, which in turn encourages you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Research has demonstrated that people who find physical activity enjoyable tend to stick with it and exercise more frequently. They also make healthier food choices and consume fewer calories than when the task isn’t enjoyable.
There are plenty of ways to make working out more enjoyable and interesting. Play games, go for a run with friends, or try something different that doesn’t typically fit into your routine – the key is finding what motivates you and implementing that into a routine that makes working out exciting again!
Make it a Priority
Make exercise a priority to create an effective habit. This may mean setting aside some time in the morning or late at night, but it’s achievable!
Exercising can provide numerous health advantages. It helps manage chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, enhances sleep quality and reduces stress levels.
Exercise not only boosts feel-good brain chemicals and reduces pain, but it can also help you maintain your weight by helping release endorphins (happy hormones).
Reward Yourself
One of the best ways to stay motivated while exercising is rewarding yourself. These rewards can be small or big, but they will help ensure your commitment to reaching your fitness objectives remains intact.
For instance, a new outfit can be an excellent reward for reaching your weight loss goal or making working out more exciting.
You can create a savings account specifically for health and fitness goals. Once you reach each objective, deposit some money into this account so that you can treat yourself to something special.
Another way to reward yourself is by purchasing new workout equipment. This could be something as straightforward as running shoes, or it could be more elaborate; such as getting a gym bag that holds all your essential items for workouts.
