You know that exercising is good for both your body and your mind, right? First of all, it delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and makes your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. Second of all, it improves self-esteem and cognitive function. In fact, it has been scientifically proven to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
While all of those potential benefits are often enough to make someone start exercising, what comes next is far more difficult. After you get started, you will have to stay motivated and keep on working out. It’s all about the long-term commitment. Not everyone is able to do that.
It is very likely that you are one of such people. It’s hard to stick to habits. Coming up with a new exercise routine and then sticking to it is really admirable! However, you might be worried that you will end up losing that motivation in a few weeks or even days – perhaps it has happened more than once? To help you out, we came up with a few tips that you might want to make use of. Take a look!
Why Do You Want To Exercise?
According to the self-improvement experts at Wealthy Gorilla, you need to be emotionally invested in your goals in order to achieve them. What does it mean? You need to make sure that you have a really personal reason for doing something if you want to be successful.
When it comes to exercising, most people do it because they want to look good. Sure, it is a great reason to exercise, especially if you are struggling with low self-esteem. But at the same time, it sounds kind of shallow. Instead of focusing on your looks, try to find at least one other reason for working out.
Make Your Goals Realistic!
If you are either new to exercise or have not exercised in a long while, your goals might be too big for you right now. As a result, you might get overwhelmed after just one or two workout sessions. If you want to avoid that, it would be best to start slow and set realistic and achievable goals.
Instead of planning on working out for an hour every day, try to exercise for 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a week. It will be much more manageable and will help you with easing into an exercise routine. As time goes on, exercise will become a habit, and doing it will become much easier than it used to be!
Buy High-Quality Workout Clothes!
You have probably noticed that most people who really like going to the gym have a special gym outfit that consists of really comfortable and high-quality workout clothes. Even though they tend to be quite costly, it is an excellent investment that can help you get motivated. Why is that the case?
Most importantly, wearing new clothes that make you look good makes you feel less self-conscious, which is a feeling that many beginners have to deal with. On top of that, spending a significant amount of money on a new outfit might make you feel compelled to work out. After all, you do not want that money to go to waste, right?
Track Your Progress!
Tracking your progress can serve as a great source of motivation! For instance, imagine that your personal goal is being able to run a marathon. After completing a running session, write down the time it takes you to run a mile. In a week or two, you will be able to see significant progress! And as you get better, you will turn that mile into five miles or ten miles.
Consequently, you will be able to see what you were capable of when you started exercising and compare it to what you are capable of now. It is guaranteed to make you feel proud and eager to make even more progress! Tracking progress helps you set better goals for yourself!
Getting Motivated To Exercise Is Easier Than It Sounds!
All in all, there is a huge number of ways to motivate yourself to work out. While the ones mentioned above are quite effective, there are many others that you might find even more appealing. Because of that, make sure to do more research on your own. There are plenty of books, videos, and articles out there that you are bound to find helpful.
Aside from that, it is worth noting that once you start exercising, you should not feel guilty over not being able to complete your workout routine. Having bad days is completely natural and something that everyone can relate to.
Whenever it happens, spend the time you wanted to devote to exercising with your loved ones or with your pets or go out for a relaxing walk. Once you recharge your batteries, you will get the energy you need to tackle your fitness goals!