If you’re trying to get fit and you hate exercise, it can be really tough. The fact is that most people don’t enjoy jogging or lifting weights in a gym – but we all know that being active is good for us. So, what does it take to motivate yourself when exercising isn’t fun? Well, for starters, let’s look at some reasons why people don’t like exercise:
Source your motivation
Motivation is the “juice” that gets you started. It’s what helps you take that first step or keep moving forward when it becomes hard to do so. Motivation comes in many different forms, but if you don’t have it, there’s no way that you can succeed.
There are two types of motivation: internal and external.
Internal motivation means that something inside of yourself is driving your behaviour, while external motivation comes from outside forces such as rewards or punishments. For example, if a dog has been trained to do tricks for treats and praise, then his owner would be providing him with external (or extrinsic) motivation; whereas if he likes doing tricks because they make him feel good about himself (intrinsic), then his owner is providing him with internal (or intrinsic) motivation instead!
Think about what motivates you
Think about what motivates you. What is your end goal? Is it to lose weight and get healthier? Or is it to become stronger, faster and more durable so that you can run a marathon with your friends?
Once you have an idea of what drives your desire to get fit, write down some triggers that will help spur you on in times when motivation seems low. Maybe it’s seeing a friend post about their progress online or reading up on new ways to achieve the results that inspire you most.
If there’s anything else that motivates or inspires us towards our fitness goals, then make sure we write these down too!
Understand your behaviour
Knowing why you feel the way you do about exercise is the first step toward making a change in your life. If you are tired of being tired, and want to increase energy levels, understanding how your body responds to exercise is key.
Even if it’s just a simple walk around the block, start by doing something physical every day. This can help build confidence and motivation as well as keep you on track with your goal of becoming more fit.
If you are not sure why you feel the way you do about exercise, try answering these questions:
– What would it mean for me to be more physically active?
– How can I fit in more exercise into my life?
– Why do I think it’s important for me to be more active?
Set a goal
Set a goal that is achievable.
For example, if your goal is to run a 5K race in six weeks, then set another goal that is more attainable. For example, try walking for 30 minutes each day or doing some strength training exercises with free weights at home. After you meet this new goal, set another one that will help you reach the ultimate goal of becoming fit and healthy.
Set a goal that is measurable.
For example, if you want to lose 20 pounds, write down how much weight you want to lose each week. This way, you can track your progress over time and see how well your plan is working for you.
Set a goal that is specific.
For example, it’s not good enough to say, “I want to be more active”. Instead, set a goal like “I want to run 3 times per week for 30 minutes at a time.”
Set a goal that is realistic, and time bound.
For example, if you want to lose 2 pounds per week, set a goal like “I will lose 2 pounds each week for 3 weeks”. Set a goal that is written down. Write your goals down on paper and post them somewhere where they can serve as a reminder of what you want to accomplish.
Set a goal that is attainable.
If you set a goal that is too easy to attain, you won’t feel as motivated and may give up on your plan entirely. On the other hand, if you set a goal that is too difficult or doesn’t seem possible, you can lose interest quickly. Set a goal that is measurable. By making sure that your goals are measurable (for example: “I want to run 3 times per week for 30 minutes at a time”), you can easily see how well they are working for you.
Get the right attitude to exercise
The first step to getting fit is to figure out the right attitude. If you hate exercise, then it’s unlikely that you’ll feel motivated by going for a run or lifting weights. Many people are afraid of exercise because it feels like work and takes effort. But this doesn’t have to be the case! It’s important not only to find an exercise you enjoy, but also one that helps you develop good habits over time—which means taking small steps at first. If lifting weights sounds intimidating, try doing some basic squats and crunches instead! Or maybe running seems too hard; walking would be a great place for beginners who want to start exercising regularly (and will help build up their endurance).
When trying something new or challenging yourself with something difficult—like exercising—it can be easy to give up early without seeing any results if you’re not patient enough with yourself. So don’t be afraid when starting out: take small steps towards reaching your goals, ask others for advice along the way if needed, and don’t compare yourself against others (or even think about whether other people are more fit than you). As long as you’re working towards improving yourself every day by doing whatever activity helps get those endorphins flowing (whether it’s going for walks around town or dancing in front of mirrors), then everything else will fall into place eventually!
Find an exercise you enjoy and add it to your routine
As long as you’re working towards improving yourself every day by doing whatever activity helps get those endorphins flowing (whether it’s going for walks around town or dancing in front of mirrors), then everything else will fall into place eventually! Find an exercise you enjoy and add it to your routine. Finding an exercise, you enjoy is easier than ever before. Experimenting with new types of workouts can give your body the challenge it requires to stay strong, toned and healthy!
Find an exercise buddy
If you’re struggling to stay motivated, find a friend to go with you. Not only can having someone to work out with help keep you accountable but it will also make the time go faster and be more enjoyable! You can do this by joining a gym together or even just starting walking together in your local park or neighbourhood on the weekends.
- Set goals for yourself and then share them with each other so that both of you know what the other is aiming for and how far off target they are from achieving their goal (it’s important not to set unrealistic goals though!). This way if one person fails at reaching their goal then they won’t feel as bad knowing that they tried but didn’t quite make it – instead they’ll be able to use this as encouragement when setting future targets
Remember, you don’t have to be good at something to enjoy it
You don’t have to be good at something to enjoy it. In fact, I’d argue that the more you do something, the better you’ll get at it and the more fun it will become. If you hate exercise but want to get fit, try taking up a hobby like yoga or rock climbing! Or even just try walking for an hour every day. The point is that if you’re doing something active and healthy regularly—even if that activity isn’t a sport or skill set—you’ll feel better about yourself and will be motivated in other areas of your life as well.
Try something new
- If you’re at a loss for what to do, try a workout class that seems too hard for you. Most of the time, it’s easier than you think and can be less intimidating in person than watching it on TV. Also, when you choose something specific to work towards, such as taking a kickboxing class or learning how to pole dance (yes! Pole dancing is an exercise!), you have more motivation to keep going and get more out of your workouts because they are so much fun!
- Do something just for fun sometimes; this could mean trying out some new equipment at the gym or going out with friends who also enjoy exercising together. Sometimes we forget why we wanted to get fit in the first place: because we had fun experiences with friends who were enjoying themselves too! Just ask yourself if there was anything about being fit that was actually enjoyable before? And if so, maybe try doing that again instead of going back into old habits just because someone else says so (whether it’s your mum or some fitness guru with abs).
You don’t have to run a marathon to succeed at exercise – you just need to start with something, anything, that works for you
If you’re still not convinced that exercise can be fun, check out these ideas for how to get started:
- Start small. Don’t think about how long you exercise for or how much weight you lose in the beginning – just focus on how good it feels after. If walking around the block is what works for you, then start there! You can always increase your exercise over time if that seems right for you.
- Find an exercise buddy. If one person is less likely to quit than two people, then three must be even better! Find someone else who wants to get fit and make it a regular date with them (or them). A buddy makes it easier to stay motivated when things get tough, so try joining an adult sports league or finding some other way of meeting like-minded people who share your interests outside of work too – whether this means attending events together or just hanging out more often than usual every weekend so that everyone has something positive going on during their weekdays too.”
Conclusion
You don’t have to be a fitness fanatic or join a gym in order to achieve your health goals. Start small and make gradual improvements as you go along–don’t let the idea of being completely fit stop you from starting with something simple that works for your lifestyle.
If you have any questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.
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