Keeping exercise motivation high until summer arrives
Motivation and exercise have an interesting relationship. It can be terribly challenging to find the motivation needed to exercise, but exercise itself is great for increasing motivation!
So if you can just get yourself to start moving (often the most challenging part) it is likely that you will continue, at least with that particular exercise session.
With the colder, darker and wetter days that winter often brings, I focus this article on two pointers to help you find the motivation to get out there and start moving (and then hopefully keep moving)!
Before we get started, let me just check that you are feeling well? If not, head over and check out my top tips for winter wellness before you read any further!
Make it easy
A common problem with motivating yourself to exercise is that it just ‘sounds hard’. “It’s too much effort” or “it’ hurts too much” are thoughts that can arise.
So when it’s a cold, dark winters day and you feel like you’ve got zero motivation, make it as easy on yourself as possible! What is the easiest form of activity you could do? Could you:
- Bundle yourself up super warm and take a walk around the block? After this you might decide to walk further, or just call it quits — in which case you will still be feeling better than if you hadn’t walked at all.
- Get up from your desk and do ten squats? The little energy boost you get from that may spur you on to continue.
You don’t need to think of an exercise session as an arduous task. It’s just ‘movement’ and you need to figure out what will get you moving. If that means sleeping in your exercise gear to prepare for a morning session, then do it!
Find a buddy
Accountability is one of the best motivational methods around. If you arrange to meet a friend at the gym, chances are that you’re not going to let them down, and once you get there, working out will be easier with someone to push you along.
If your budget allows, find yourself the ultimate accountability buddy and invest in a personal trainer. Small group training sessions are usually available to reduce the cost. Hiring a trainer for a few months over winter can go a long way towards helping you continue by yourself over spring and summer. A good personal trainer will help you develop and implement a plan that includes sustainable, healthy habits.
The question of how to motivate yourself is a big one. The ultimate form of motivation is called ‘intrinsic motivation’, which is where you find a strong enough level of desire within yourself to take the actions you want to. This means that you need to have a very strong reason why your goals are important, the reason must have a significant emotional component, and it should also be focused on a long term solution, i.e. a gradual lifestyle change, rather than a quick fix.
Keep this in mind along with the two points outlined in this article and you’ll be on track to have a solid exercise habit underway by the time summer is upon us.
Originally published at Elly McGuinness.
