Exercise Motivation
Are you struggling to get out the door for your afternoon walk?
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Are you struggling to get out the door for your afternoon walk, or finding an
extra hour of sleep more appealing than hitting the pavement for your morning
stroll? Despite being well aware of the benefits of exercise, and knowing how
great you will feel after exercising; you may find yourself struggling with
motivation. Read on for some tips:
Getting Started
Write down a list of the things that currently work for or against you
exercising. This will help you develop strategies to overcome unhelpful factors
and reinforce helpful ones.
Exercise Buddies
Exercise buddies help to keep you accountable. There is nothing like the
commitment of knowing that someone is waiting for you. Walking groups or cycling
rides are also a great way to meet people; and, as your fitness improves, group
sessions offer a challenge as other people who have greater fitness will spur
you on!
Walk with a Tune
Listening to music helps to keep you motivated during exercise, resulting in
a longer and more enjoyable session. There is a great range of MP3 players
available that attach to your belt or arm, suitable to wear during your exercise
routine. If music isn't your thing you could try listening to books on a CD.
Schedule It
If you have a calendar or diary with a "to do list' in your day; make sure
your exercise routine is a part of that list. Book an appointment with yourself
and prioritise it just like you would any other appointment.
Exercise Early
If you want to get something done, do it early in the day: later in the day
other tasks and responsibilities start accumulating. If you exercise early you
will benefit from an elevated metabolic rate for the remainder of the day, which
means you are likely to burn more calories. If you can't fit exercise in early,
try to do it before you get home. Once you get home, it can be difficult to go
back out!
Keep a Diary
An exercise diary is a great monitoring tool which encourages consistency.
When you do meet your exercise goals, treat yourself to a non-food reward an
incentive to keep up the good work! When you are particularly busy and time is
limited, a pedometer is a great way of monitoring your incidental exercise.
Heart rate monitors are also an excellent means of monitoring exercise
intensity, duration and calories burned.
You may also be interested in:
Weight Watchers Diet to
losing weight.
