How To Get Motivated To Exercise

Finding the motivation to workout can be a never ending endeavor for some. A great many distractions can throw off one’s desire to exercise. Items such as time, lack of energy, responsibilities, fear of physical pain/exertion, and convenience can all play a role in putting a damper on a starting a workout.

Time

There are only 24 hours in a day and sometimes it is still not enough to get every task completed. Finding the time to work out cannot be an afterthought, the day should be planned around it. Try setting a specific time to work out, put it in your calendar, let your friends/family know so they understand that you’ll be busy and that working out is a priority. To get a solid work out, one only needs 30-60 minutes. Next time your evening television show comes on, ask yourself if those 30 minutes are worth it.

Lack of Energy

After a long day of work, school, or family, sometimes the last thing you want to do is exercise. Drained from the day, nothing sounds better than curling up on the couch and relaxing but did you know that exercise and other physical activity can boost energy levels? Find a time of day that works best for you, if you have more energy in the morning, exercise early, if you’re more of an evening person, workout then.

Responsibilities

Life is very good at keeping people busy. Everyone has responsibilities they must take care of but they often neglect one of the most important ones: themselves. Making your workout a priority over the other things life throws at you is your responsibility to yourself. Lack of care for one’s own physical condition can lead to numerous health issues, moodiness, and poor energy levels.

Fear of Physical Pain/Exertion

Many people shy away from exercise because it hurts. The old saying, "Pain is weakness leaving the body" should be taken with a grain of salt. Exercise should never feel painful or hurt you. Burning sensations and muscles that feel like wet noodles after a workout are only temporary and should be considered good feelings! Learn to embrace these physical responses and know that they are making you stronger and more fit each time you experience them.

Convenience

Do not let something as annoying as having to travel somewhere to exercise get in your way. There are plenty of exercises you can perform at home while achieving a solid workout. Legs raises, push-ups, and squats (substitute the dumbbells for jugs of water or just use your body weight) are all great examples of exercises that require no equipment and a single set can be completed in less than 2 minutes. That’s shorter than the standard television commercial break. If you have access to flights of stairs, you can take a couple rounds on those to really get the heart going. Remember, you don't always need a gym to exercise and something is better than nothing.