You open up your closet, put on gym clothes, and lace up your tennis shoes, only to fall into the trap of a diversion. Your mind steers away from exercise and instead makes you believe that there is too much to do, not enough time, or that you will be active another day. It feels like you get so close to exercising, but the small surge of passion you felt dies out, and the workout never happens. Most people have experienced a resistance to exercise, even those who are super athletic and workout every day probably started off indifferent. So how do you get motivated and stay inspired? I discovered a few techniques that gave me a drive for physical activity, and maybe they will help you too.
About two years ago, if you asked me to run or go to the gym, I would have laughed. The idea of exercising did not use to appeal to me at all. I thought about getting active but never made an effort to exert myself more than I had to. Then one day I found myself wishing for muscle tone and strength like the fit people I saw on Instagram. I started to look up positive quotes and encouraging stories that would hopefully stimulate my mind and body to crave exercise. Mentally I challenged myself by setting fitness goals and understanding that I had to work to achieve them.
After I had an objective to strive for, I tried to associate exercise with my pleasures, which is what got me out the door. I knew how much better I would feel once I got myself moving and released my built up energy. Also, I love being outside, so I used a beautiful day to help influence me. The fresh air and sunshine really provoked me to do something active, whether it be a long walk or run. Since listening to music is really enjoyable for me, I would buy a new album and run to it. The fresh tunes, usually songs with a good beat, kept me focused on the activity and in a good rhythm. Think about the things you relish in and try to connect them to training, that way you start to think of exercise as fun instead of a chore.
Knowing the benefits of exercise also got me motivated. I wanted to feel stronger and healthier, and I knew one way was to get active. Once I started exercising a lot, I could identify the positives even more. Since working out causes your body to naturally release happy chemicals called Dopamine, it becomes a natural high. Every time I exercise, I truly am happier and feel an instant stress release. There is not one person who doesn't workout and feel great about themselves afterward. Yes, you will be sore, but you will be more than pleased after you start to see improvements in your mood, energy, health, and body. For me, having better health mentally and physically was my biggest incentive.
Guess what? You can make exercise a social event! The more people working out with you equals more motivation! Find one or many workout buddies and encourage each other. Exercising with other people means that you can help one another get out the door and push each other to work harder. It is a really great feeling to have other people influence you, especially when you are having a bad day or don't feel like it. I started off working out and running alone, but when I eventually went to a public gym and joined my school's cross country team, I realized that having a team or a group of people is so beneficial. And who knows, you might inspire someone else!
Another great way to find the urge to exercise is to realize that it improves your focus and productivity. You will notice that if you exercise before you go to work, especially if it's a sitting job, your body and mind become calm and collected afterward. Before I got active, I always had so much built up energy and struggled with focusing or staying on task. Once I began exercising, it grew a lot easier for me to sit still and focus on working productively. Not saying that I'm perfect at staying productive (I'm not), but if I get in a run or workout before I have to sit down and focus, I can really pay attention.
If the aspects of time, pain, or other reasons are holding you back, just remember that it's a mental battle you have the power to win. Just take it a day at a time and start by planning to exercise. Don't let those excuses get to you, because they are holding you back from feeling empowered. It is a wonderful accomplishment when you start to see your work pay off, and exercise will take you there. Once you achieve motivation, it becomes dedication, and soon you will be well on your way to reaching your fitness goals.
