Being physically active succours us stay healthy, and if we have a few extra pounds, it makes losing weight simpler. However, knowing this does not necessarily motivate us to get off the sofa and onto the treadmill or to lift weights. If you have strong intentions of exercising but find that it always falls to the bottom of your to-do list, you may ask why. The answer to this question is different for everyone because there are numerous reasons why people struggle to get inspired to exercise.
Do you Lack the Motivation to exercise?
If you dont have the motivation to exercise, you can begin by including daily movement that you enjoy but is not a necessary part of an organized routine. For example, take your pet or children for a walk, play outside, or start an active pastime such as gardening or a team sport. You can also include more exercise into your day by using the stairs, parking further away from stores and work, or walking to neighboring errands.
Obstacles to Exercise Motivation
We’ve all heard the most popular excuses for not exercising: we’re too busy, too sleepy, it’s too dull, and so on. But, though we tell ourselves this, the real reasons we aren’t inspired to exercise may be a little deeper.
The Workout Is Unfamiliar
Structured exercise is something that some people have never had to do before. As a result, it becomes easier to abandon it rather than figure out how to begin an exercise regimen. This is true if your calendar is usually jam-packed, leaving little time to adopt a new training program. In addition, you lack the mental or physical capacity to add another item to your to-do list, especially if that item is entirely unfamiliar to you.
Exercise is Incompatible with Your Sedentary Lifestyle
In today’s world, there is less need for movement. Many people spend their days in front of computers. Evenings are spent watching television, socializing, or playing online games. We don’t need to be active to get things done. If this describes your life, it’s conceivable that sitting has become your comfort zone. This can make it more challenging to establish a regular fitness routine.
Exercise is Regarded as a Luxury
Some people recognize the importance of exercise for good health, quality of life, and weight control, but it becomes an activity they promise to undertake when their calendar is less hectic. In this way, it is regarded as a luxury rather than something they “must” do. Yet, exercising is essential for mental and physical health. Furthermore, not exercising can increase the risk of significant medical disorders, decrease muscle size and strength. Also, exercise helps alleviate anxiety, despair, and stress.
Exercise Is Considered Difficult
Another reason you may be unmotivated to exercise is that you perceive it to be tough. You’ve seen images of individuals battling to finish their workouts, and you don’t want to go through that yourself. Exercise can be much less motivating if you find it dull in addition to being challenging. Your eyes roll back into your head as you imagine yourself riding a stationary bike to nowhere. Viewing exercise as something negative—boring, pointless, tough, repetitive, and so on—is unlikely to motivate you to go to the gym. It is more likely to make you want to avoid it!
Negative Consequences Do Not Occur Immediately
Many things in life have instant effects if we do not do what we are expected to do. If you don’t turn at the bend in the road, you’ll wind up in the ditch. But what happens if you don’t work out? Normally, nothing. Not right away, at any rate. Even knowing the long-term repercussions of not exercising (such as weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer) may not be enough to motivate us because it’s difficult to be concerned about something that hasn’t happened or may never happen.
If any of these concepts relate with you, you may wonder if finding the drive to exercise is even feasible. The answer is, indeed, yes. The good news is that even a minor shift in your attitude toward exercise can make a significant difference in your motivation.
Find Your Workout Motivation
Although exercise is mainly about moving your body, the first step is to move your mind. Getting through your mental barriers can lead to new ideas, attitudes, and a fresh exercise drive.
Recognize Your Situation
We used to have more reasons to be active. For example, people had to trim their grass, hand-wash their dishes, and walk to school. While we have assistance with many of these duties nowadays, it’s essential to realize that these contemporary conveniences can add to our health problems if we let them. Recognizing where you are, as well as your obligation to maintain your fitness regularly, helps to keep things in balance. It also puts you closer to improving your lifestyle because you recognize areas where you may improve.
Accept Exercise as a Prerequisite
Exercise is essential if you want to get healthy. No drug, diet, or surgical procedure can replace physical activity. So, rather than viewing exercise as a choice, commit to making it a regular part of your day, just as you would make your bed and brush your teeth. Making peace with the concept that exercise is as necessary as frequently putting out the garbage makes it simpler. It doesn’t have to take place at a gym or take up hours of your time. You can exercise at home. Mini exercise sessions can also be done to fit them into your schedule. In addition, knowing you can design your exercise routine may motivate you to get up and move.
Make Your Workouts Meaningful
Exercise is a means to an end for some people. It’s a method for losing weight or getting a more toned figure. Future goals are standard, but there’s another component to the mix that, when missing, makes long-term exercise difficult to maintain. In other words, regardless of whether you ever accomplish your fitness objective, your workouts must be valuable. Working for the future is insufficient to keep us motivated and determined. We need it to have meaning right now. Consider what exercise means to you, other than a strategy to lose weight or increase muscle. What value does it provide aside from your fitness goals? Your goal may involve using exercise to relieve stress and maintain energy levels. Alternatively, exercise may be the only time you have to yourself daily. Discover your worth and significance, and you’ll discover your motivation.
Do What Feels Right to You
When it comes to exercise, it’s critical to mold your own route. Too frequently, people associate exercise with joining health clubs, working out on cardio machines, and attending fitness classes. You have complete flexibility to pursue your interests. If you despise them, you don’t have to join a gym to get in shape. If you dislike the monotony and boring treadmills, try something more involved, such as basketball or spin class. Don’t be scared to look outside the box when exercising. Boxing, Muay Thai (Thai boxing), trekking, mountain biking, and dancing are all options. Find out what you enjoy and disregard the rules.
Incorporate Physical Activity Into Your Daily Life
While you’re thinking about your exercise barriers, why not start working toward a more active lifestyle? You do not have to change your whole life upside down. Instead, start with tiny efforts to live a healthier lifestyle. Incorporate extra physical activity into your daily routine. For example, if you like to keep things easy, you may go for multiple walks throughout the day or add some laps to your next mall shopping trip. Then, when you’re ready, start incorporating focused workout sessions to raise your heart rate and muscle mass.
Kim’s Final Thoughts…
It’s not always simple to get and stay motivated to exercise, but once we figure out what’s getting in our way and how to overcome it, it’s much easier to make exercise a habit. Choosing a suitable activity may even make you look forward to working out. There are now streaming fitness videos, podcasts, fitness video games, and a wide range of health clubs and gyms to suit every need and budget. There’s something out there for everyone. It’s simply browsing around and selecting an activity (and place) that piques your interest.
