Written By: Tricia Borren
Getting in shape is a goal that most people have, especially in the spring when the weather is getting warmer and swimsuit season is looming ahead. However, finding enough motivation to stick to your exercise program can be difficult and some people may find it nearly impossible. Here are some tips to help you find, and keep, your motivation.
Do Something Now
It’s easy to put off your workouts until tomorrow. Doing something now ensures that something will be accomplished. It also means that you will see results sooner than if you keep putting off your workouts. Just doing something now, even if it is small, will help get the ball rolling toward longer workouts. A few push-ups or jumping jacks will get your heart pumping and raise your energy level.
Sign Up For A Class
Signing up for an exercise class that fits into your schedule is motivational for a couple of reasons. One is that you usually have to pay for classes, meaning that you will be wasting your money every time you don’t show up. Another reason to sign up for an exercise class is that it gives you a specific time and place in your schedule for exercise. A lot of places, like the Wisconsin Athletic Club, have classes at all times of the day so you can fit in workouts on your time. Getting a friend or coworker to take the class with you is even more motivational.
Do Something You Love
Working out doesn’t have to be grueling. Kicking around a soccer ball with your friends is a workout, as is going out dancing or walking around a park. These workouts are much more fun that the traditional ones. Using machines at the gym is a great way to get exercise, but you will probably stick to a workout routine much longer if it includes doing things that you love.
Place Motivational Pictures Where You’ll See Them Daily
Pictures are very motivational, whether they are photos of you at your highest weight or magazine cutouts of people who have reached their fitness goals. Placing these photos on your mirror, refrigerator and front door will help remind you of your goals. Many people find that having an abstract weight in their head is not very motivating, but looking at a picture of themselves at their chubbiest will remind them to work out so that they never look that way again.
Motivation is different for every person, so you may have to try several approaches before you find the one that is most motivating for you. The most important thing is that you are working toward your goals every day, as small steps often lead to large results.
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