Motivation has a way of disappearing. Saying you want to exercise more is simple, but actually making it happen can be terribly difficult, draining your motivation fast. So, we thought we’d put together some quick tips to help you stay motivated to exercise.
Stay motivated to exercise with these 7 tips
1. Stick to the basics
There is so much information out there on motivation and strategies for making change that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Instead of drowning in info, stick to the basics. Eat well, get 7 to 9 hours of good-quality sleep each night and drink plenty of water during the day. Keeping it simple helps you stay focused on the things that matter. When you’re hydrated, well-rested and full of nutritious food, you’ll be more likely to stay motivated to exercise.
2. Focus on consistency over intensity
It’s easy to go too hard and too fast out of the gate. We think big changes require big actions. But the truth is that consistency matters far more than intensity. Start small and focus on doing something each day. Change happens slowly and steadily, not overnight. Once you get the hang of consistent action, then you can start upping the intensity.
3. Don’t take an all-or-nothing approach
We’re often quick to judge our goals on a pass/fail basis. Either we did it or we didn’t. Combine this with a lofty New Year’s resolution, and you have a recipe for failure.
Instead, make progress your measuring stick. Are you getting better? Are you taking actions toward your goals? Are you headed in the right direction?
Don’t get down on yourself if you’ve missed a day or already faced a challenge. Just keep moving forward. The year is long, and you’ll go far if you remember that something is better than nothing.
4. Remind yourself what’s at stake
Sometimes we are motivated to take action not by what we’ll get if we do, but by what will happen if we don’t. We drag ourselves out of bed and to work each morning because if we don’t, there will be consequences.
The same is true of moving more. It may sound a tad morbid, but it’s important to remind yourself what will happen if you don’t make movement a regular part of your day. What will happen to your health and happiness?
Your primary motivation should never be fear, of course, but keeping the consequences of inaction in mind can certainly help push you forward and stay motivated to exercise.
5. Don’t compare yourself to others
Social media has made it easier than ever before to compare. It’s extremely tempting and hard to resist comparing where we’re at with others. But it can also be super deflating.
Instead, try to focus on yourself, your goals and your priorities. Remember that we’re all on different paths, and trying to compare them isn’t fair to you, helpful for making progress or a good way to stay motivated to exercise.
6. Start with the smallest possible thing
You don’t need motivation to brush your teeth or tie your shoes. You just do it. Tiny tasks are effortless.
When you’re not feeling motivated, focus on a task so tiny that there’s no motivation required. It may seem silly at first, but it also may just lead to forming a new habit.
7. Have fun!
The more fun you’re having, the more motivated you’ll feel. Don’t force yourself to do things that feel like bores or chores. They sap your motivation.
Instead, do something you’ll enjoy, even if it’s a short walk or wheel, dancing to your favourite jam in your living room, or just a few stretches to help you relax.
Living the dream
The dream is for your motivation to grow over time rather than fade away. But that might not happen at first, and that’s okay!
But if you stick to the basics, consistently take small steps, and have fun with the process, you just might end up living the dream.
