I have always been an athlete, but I have not always been motivated to exercise. Over the years, I have learned tips along the way that have helped me. Below are some tips about how to get motivated to exercise. Many of us get instantly motivated at the beginning of the year. During the first week in January, it is always impossible to find open treadmills and exercise bikes at the gym. By the time February rolls around, it is a much different scene. Why is that? Why do we fall back so quickly into our old patterns? I cover this in more detail in my Change Anything Review post.
Beyond the foundation principles, there are some daily tricks and techniques that can help you get motivated to exercise. Remember, it is often the most difficult in the beginning. Our brain is a habit former and it so desperately wants to run the old pattern and way of doing things. This is often called habit gravity. Just like a rocket you have to burn a ton of fuel in the beginning in order to reprogram your brain to form new habits. The good news is that once you have gotten over the hump, you do not have to expend as much energy. If you want to learn how to get motivated to exercise, then consider these tips.
How to Get Motivated to Exercise
Set yourself up for daily success – this is an important step especially in the beginning when first starting out. The most difficult challenge you will overcome is excuses. You will look for ways out of your new commitment. Recognize that excuses are lies that you tell yourself. See them for what they are. Do whatever necessary to eliminate the excuses. If you want to exercise in the morning, set out the night before all your clothes and exercise gear. Place your running shoes by your bed so you will be ready to go in the morning.
Find a partner to workout with – an ally can be a great help in the beginning. If you know someone is waiting for you at the gym, you are more likely to show up. If a neighbor is going to meet you outside your home at 6:00 am for a jog around the block, you will be less likely to hot the snooze button.
Set a short term goal – we often quit because our goal is too big. We do not see the immediate results and so we begin to lose motivation. By setting a shorter goal, we are. More likely to stick with it. Set a 30 day goal and re-evaluate later.
Don’t break the chain – I love this principle and it works great when you place 100% focus on it. It is a simple idea that works like magic. Sometimes the simplest of ideas work best. We try to complicate things thinking that more detail is always better. To work this tip, use a simple calendar and mark the days that you exercise. Try to mark as many days as possible without missing.
Pick a time of the day that has the least interruptions – lastly, if you want to learn how to get motivated to exercise, you have to minimize your interruptions. Pick the time of day that you are less likely to miss your exercise time. Don’t fight against your schedule. Instead just choose the best time of day. What time of the day is less hectic?
How do you get motivated to exercise?
