Listen, we all know that working out and exercising is beneficial. It’s not a huge secret, everyone is aware of the health advantages of being fit. So, why do so many of us still struggle to find the motivation to work out? Understanding the benefits isn’t enough to push us to exercise, so what can we do instead? You can try many different motivational tactics, but these three are arguably the simplest and easiest to adopt:
Setting long and short-term goals is the best way to feel motivated when exercising. Set a goal before each session, and you instantly have something to aim for. You now have a personal challenge, which mentally pushes you to try harder. Monthly or weekly goals also work, encouraging you to push yourself in each session so you meet them. You’ll find exercising much easier and less of a struggle when you have a few goals laid out to follow.
Similarly, you can give yourself rewards for positive behaviours. For example, reward yourself with a cheat meal after working out for a set number of days per month or week. Or, treat yourself to a coffee after each session as a reward for doing good. You can think of any rewards you like – just as long as they don’t ruin your fitness progress! The concept of rewarding yourself for positive behaviours is an age-old method of motivation that is proven to work for just about everyone.
Sometimes, putting headphones in and listening to music can motivate you. There’s probably some scientific explanation for this, but most of us feel spurred on by fast-paced music – almost as though our body wants to move and work hard. Choosing the right headphones for exercise is a massive decision, as you don’t want to have a rubbish pair. Over the head ones can be better for some, particularly as earbuds are quite sore and rub against your ears. You see this happen with people who have hearing aids as they develop sores inside their ears from wearing them for too long. Earbuds do a similar thing to some people, but it does depend on your ear shape. Mainly, you need wireless headphones for exercising, as it makes life less stressful!
Working with a personal trainer can be the only way for some people to feel motivated. Having someone else design your exercise programme takes away one of your motivational barriers already. When you know exactly what you’re doing, it’s so much easier to get yourself up and ready for action. Also, you have someone who will push you and motivate you as part of their job! They can employ lots of tactics that get you super motivated to attack your workouts.
Finding the motivation to exercise is key if you want to adopt a healthy lifestyle. This will enable you to work out regularly and see all the health benefits it can bring. It may take time to build up your motivation, but it will be worth it in the end.