TeamPeople forget that working out doesn’t have to be a boring task that you got to get over with even though you don’t feel like it. You can actually enjoy exercising, and this is one of the best ways to stay motivated to work out. Naturally, you’ll want to keep doing something that makes you feel good. Sometimes though, it’s not that simple, so here’s how you can stay motivated to exercise:
1. Set realistic goals and slowly adjust them.
It’s good to be ambitious, but being overly ambitious can even be bad for you. If the goals that you set for yourself aren’t realistic, you are going to get disappointed when you don’t achieve them. Always try to set achievable goals that you can actually commit to reaching. Maybe you can’t spend an hour at the gym every other day right now, but, maybe you can walk for 30 minutes each day. Set short-term goals that you can achieve without much trouble so that you can later adjust them and stay motivated to aim higher.
2. Make your goal your priority.
The biggest reason why people give up on working out is time. However, the secret to finding the time is prioritizing. You’ll never have time for exercise if it’s at the bottom of your list of priorities. As long as you consider working out as something optional, you are not going to dedicate enough of your time to it. Consider it as a part of your job instead. Working out will make you better at whatever it is that you do, whether it’s being an artist, a dentist, or a stay-at-home parent. You’ll feel better in your body and have more energy for everything that you need to do during the day. Make working out a priority that you have to find time for, and you will.
3. Try different things and find what works for you.
One of the ways to stay motivated to work out is to work out in a way that you enjoy. Maybe hitting the gym isn’t for you, but you might enjoy playing baseball or taking dancing lessons. Find what feels good for you, and you’ll be more motivated to keep doing it. As long as you’re staying active, you’re exercising. However, not every exercise is going to help you lose weight. If weight loss is your main goal, your odds are the best at the gym. Keep in mind that the gym also offers a lot of different options, so you can still find what works best for you. You can also try some group fitness classes if you prefer not to work out alone.
4. Get help from friends.
Speaking of not doing this all on your own, you can always get support from your loved ones. Invite your friends to join you when you exercise or take a walk. You can even create some positive competition and raise each other to your goals. If you are going to work out alone, at least have someone to cheer you on. You can share your results with them, and they’ll motivate you to keep going by applauding your success. If you want, you can also share your progress on social media and let your friends encourage you to keep at it.
5. Reward yourself.
Rewards are a powerful motivator and one of the best ways to stay motivated to work out. Exercise brings good feelings, so enjoy that internal reward, but use external rewards too. Treat yourself to something nice for achieving progress in getting in shape. You can buy yourself new shoes, a personalized water bottle, a workout outfit, or something else that will make you happy and motivate you to keep exercising.
6. Be flexible.
You don’t need to stick to a rigid schedule. Just make sure that you keep exercising, but don’t forget that you can always choose the time and the day. If sometimes you really don’t feel like working out, don’t beat yourself up about it. Take the day off, but make sure that you really go next time. Sometimes it might be better to work out in the morning, other times you’ll have more time in the evening. Adjust the time to other things in your schedule and prioritize exercising, but be flexible.
7. Get back on track when you slip.
It’s okay if you slip sometimes, as long as you get back on track afterward. You can miss your workout once, but don’t do it twice. Use these ways to stay motivated to exercise, and don’t give up just because you missed out on a few workouts.
8. Enjoy the results and let them motivate you.
The truth is, you are likely to get motivated once you see the results on the scale. If your goal is to lose weight, you aren’t likely to stop once those pounds start dropping. The results on the scale will help you keep going, you just have to start and stick to your decision until you start seeing the results.
