How To Motivate Yourself To Get More Exercise
Getting enough exercise is very important when it comes to your general and mental health. On average, adults should get 30 minutes of exercise a day at least. However, it can be difficult to get up off the sofa and get yourself motivated to exercise. There are many strategies you can use to make yourself exercise more, and incorporate more exercise into your daily routine.
Join A Team Sport
One of the best ways you can encourage yourself to get more exercise is by joining a team sport. When you join a team sport such as a football, rugby or cricket team you can do sport with like-minded people and friends. A team sport also cultivates a sense of camaraderie and teamwork, making you more likely to keep returning to get some exercise. Sports help you mentally and physically, so you should consider them if you want to motivate yourself to exercise more.
Take A Friend To The Gym
Another great way to motivate yourself to get more exercise is by taking a friend to the gym with you. If you and your friend make an agreement to hold each other accountable, you can make sure you both go to the gym on a regular basis. You can either work out in free weights together, or attend some fitness classes. Having company at the gym can also boost your health confidence, which is great for improving how much exercise you get. You could even create a group of friends and create a leaderboard, and make how much exercise each of you do into a competition. This competitive edge may motivate you to get more exercise and get moving more.
Blast Music When You’re Exercising
Boredom during exercise is one of the biggest factors that makes people not want to exercise. Distractions such as TV can also make someone more likely to avoid the gym. When you go to exercise, put your headphones in and blast your favourite music. This will help you concentrate on your exercise. The right music can also put you in the right mood to start exercising, as it can make you feel upbeat and energised. Make sure to play music with a high tempo to get you in a fitness mood.
Try New Things
As well as playing music while you exercise, you should also mix up your exercise routine if you want to fight boredom that stops you from getting movement in. For example, take care not to do the same exercises every day. You should do a gym class one day, do a free workout the next, and go for a run the day after. Varying your exercise is one of the best things you can do to stay motivated and ready to go to the gym. When you feel as if your exercise is fun and exciting, you will feel more motivated to get moving!
Talk To A Personal Trainer
One of the worst things that contribute to a lack of exercise motivation is not feeling as if you’re seeing any progress. When you’re working out but not seeing any changes in your body, it can make you less likely to want to carry on. Contact a personal trainer and ask them to make a workout plan that is tailored to your body and your needs. This way, you will be more likely to be doing workouts that actually work for your body, and you will see better results. When you can see the benefits of exercise, you will be more likely to keep up with your regime!
Get New Exercise Equipment
One of the best ways to motivate yourself to work out more is to invest in some new workout equipment. If you invest in equipment that will help you meet your goals, you will feel more motivated to actually work out – particularly if you’ve paid a lot of money to do so. You don’t need to spend thousands on new gym-spec equipment – by just investing in some home dumbbells or a pilates ball, you could do amazing home workouts. You could also invest in some new gym clothes, to motivate you to get to the gym and show them off!
Start Exercising Outside
Fresh air is an amazing thing if you want to motivate yourself to exercise more. Fresh air feels amazing. It can make your lungs feel cleaner, and it can also boost your mood, lower your heart rate, and increase your energy levels. Fresh air can instantly motivate you to get exercising and start moving more – fresh air can actually become addictive. You should definitely consider getting more fresh air if you want to feel better and more motivated in general. If you’re going out in winter, make sure you’re wearing a full tracksuit or thermal underclothes, so that you don’t catch a chill.