How-to: motivate yourself

25 Jan 2012 05:00 AM | Posted by bh'sLeanne

‘I really want to get fit, but I just can’t seem to get started…’ Sound like you? Maintaining a regular exercise program strengthens your heart, lengthens your life, increases your energy and makes you feel amazing – so stop denying yourself the good stuff and try these easy tricks for increasing your lacklustre motivation…

Hire a fitness trainer
If you can’t motivate yourself, you need someone else to give you a kick up the butt. A personal trainer is the perfect way to do that. Even if you can’t afford the cost of one on one sessions, you can join a gym group or enlist a buddy to exercise with – that way you’ll have someone else you’ve committed to that you won’t want to let down.

Get fit the fun way
If your lack of motivation is stemming from the idea that fitness is boring and gruelling, you need to reassess your perspective. Fitness can be incredibly fun and social. Why not join up to a community dance class and meet new people while getting active? Try Zumba, like we did! (Look how much fun we had and boy, did we perspire!) Or try a weekly family fun day with your kids, running relays, playing tug-of-war and sack racing.

Schedule it
If you keep running out of time to exercise then it’s time to schedule an exercise routine – one that you won’t be able to weasel out of. An effective way to do this is to schedule an after work jog and pack your running gear in your work bag. When it’s time to clock off, get changed straight away. Once you’re in you’re running gear, you’ll be twice as likely to get going.

 

What motivational methods have worked for you?