Many thoughts go through your mind and body when it comes to exercising. You always tell yourself, "I need to be healthy. I need to change my lifestyle - exercise more" or "I will go for a run after work". And when the time comes, most likely you will procrastinate. The body is willing but the mind will be taking over - "Oh, I have to finish this now, I'll run tomorrow" or "It looks like its going to rain - god willing I'll exercise tomorrow."
How do you motivate yourself to exercise?
Have a Goal & stick to it
Go easy. For e.g. A simple commitment of losing 2 kg in 30 days. First, commit to an achievable milestone. Once you are able to achieve it, you will feel happy with yourself. Then move the commitment a little harder and work towards that. Soon you will be seeing results. The first 7 days of daily grind is always the hardest to keep up. Stick with it even if your mind starts to get lazy. Once you start doing it for more than a week your body goes into a routine and will accommodate to exercising easier.
Download Health & Fitness Apps
There are many mobile apps that are great motivators. Apps are a great way to track your fitness progress. Good fitness apps gives you different exercise routines daily so its not boring.
I like apps that talk and motivate you while you are exercising. Look for workout app programmes e.g. Lose belly fat in 30days, Nike+ Run, Fitness for Women, 30 day Plank Challenge, Springday, Yogalates, 7 Minutes Workout.
Group Exercise or Join a casual sports team
Get a partner to exercise with you. It is a great way to share experiences and push each other to achieve exercise goals. You can also place a healthy wager to motivate you along. Bicycling, dancing, swimming and sports like futsal, golf, badminton, basketball are great exercise routines that you can share with friends and family.
Meet new friends while exercising by joining a social class or sports club. Signup with a gym membership, yoga classes or check out the social website Meetup - look for social meet ups in your area.
Exercising can achieve good things to your mind and body. You build confidence about your image and body, you get a feel good factor about yourself and helps combat depression. Because exercising generates "positive chemicals" in your body - you get a natural high. A reason why some people are addicted to the gym and marathons. Getting hot and sweaty will increase your body temperature and improve blood circulation. The happy and positive energy generated from exercising will release tension and stress thereby allowing you to relax and think better.
