The hardest part about getting into a new, healthy habit is staying motivated to do it.
Trying to change your behavior by willpower alone is difficult and often unsustainable.
Here are four ways to motivate yourself to keep exercising all year long:
- The first step is to find what works for you. Everyone has different goals and can benefit from different approaches, so try different things until you find what works best for your lifestyle. Some people like gym memberships and group classes, while others enjoy running or yoga in the great outdoors. You can even get creative with sports, dance or martial arts classes that will help you work up a sweat while still having fun. And there are great apps available that show you how to do the exercises correctly and track your progress.
- Set a time frame for your goal: First, set a time frame for your goal. It could be the next three months, six months or even a year. Giving yourself a deadline will make you more motivated to work out because you’ll want to reach your goal before the deadline comes up.
- Make sure you have the essentials: You need clothes that are comfortable for you to exercise in, shoes that support the exercises you’ll be doing and other essentials like water bottles that will help you stay hydrated during and after your workouts. If you don’t have everything you need, set aside some cash so you can go shopping as soon as possible. Having all of your essentials ready to go will make it easier for you to stay motivated because you won’t have anything else standing in your way as you get started with working out.
- Keep an exercise log . Whether it’s writing down the exercises you did and how much weight you lifted last time or jotting down what exercise you plan to do this time around, keeping an exercise log helps reinforce your commitment to getting in shape — and helps you see your progress over time too!
