Simple trick to make you want to exercise
Did you know that being physically active can actually give you a greater sense of purpose in life? That’s what a recent report, published in the Journal of Health Psychology, found. Unfortunately, many of us are still missing out on the countless benefits of regular physical activity. And while we all know exercise is good for us, let’s face it – finding the motivation can be a real struggle. Beach holidays and weddings might be enough to encourage us to hit the treadmill in an effort to shift a few kilos and look our best, but unfortunately, these bursts of inspiration tend to be rather short-lived. So, how do you find motivation and make it stick?
The answer is simple – find something you love. You’re not alone if you tend to associate the word “exercise” with physically draining (and, for some people, downright unappealing) activities like running and weightlifting. However, exercise can be whatever you make it, and if you find something you enjoy doing, you won’t even need to “trick” yourself into doing it.
Take your mind back to your childhood years – what activities did you like to do in the schoolyard? Netball? Soccer? Handball, even? Why not revisit one of these old favourites next time you need to get the blood pumping, and make healthy living a family affair by getting the grandkids involved, too.
Or, if you like to work out without even realising it, there are dozens of fun activities you can try. Yoga is fantastic for people who want to ease themselves into a healthier lifestyle, relax, increase their flexibility and improve their strength. Dancing is another fun one, and it comes with wonderful health benefits. A study of over-60s conducted by the University of Illinois found that sedentary people who took up Latin dancing twice a week for four months were much fitter, faster, and more active in their down time.
If, after reading this, you really believe you’ve tried everything and still grapple with finding motivation, never fear. There are many practical measures you can take to encourage yourself to break a sweat, whether you’re motivated by health, aesthetics or even money.
- Set a realistic goal – Don’t tell yourself “I must work out five hours a week.” Think about what’s realistic for you. Perhaps it’s just be a short stroll around the neighbourhood each day. Start small, tick little achievements off your list and set new challenges with each milestone you reach.
- Create a motivation board – Visualising your goals is a fantastic way to keep yourself on track. Whether there’s an outfit you’d like to one day be able to wear or a marathon you’d like to participate in, pop some photos on a pin board and hang it somewhere you’ll see every day. Seeing what you’re working towards will only encourage you to go further.
- Monetise it – Yep, you can monetise your workouts. Smartphone apps like Pact encourage users to exercise by making them commit to a specific goal (like eating a certain amount of fruits and veggies or exercising a certain number of times during the week) and paying them for eating well and exercising using money from those who have broken their healthy living pact. Another good one to try is Dietbet, which is a great motivational tool for people looking to lose some weight.
- Reward yourself – If you’d rather not risk your wallet using an app like Pact (because, let’s face it, we all make mistakes), stick to good old-fashioned rewards. When you reach a goal you set, treat yourself. Try to avoid food-based rewards – as tempting as that might be! – and stick to things which will only encourage your healthy lifestyle, like more active wear, exercise equipment or something a little indulgent like a spa treatment.
THIS IS SPONSORED CONTENT BROUGHT TO YOU IN CONJUNCTION WITH NATURE’S OWN.
Related links:
7 “bad” habits that are actually good for you
10 promises to make to yourself today