Ideal Body
Even though many people adopt a new lifestyle for purely health reasons, there are many others who would love to obtain their idea of an ideal body or look. Search social media or magazines for a body type that you can aim to work towards in terms of weight and tone. By putting this photo on your phone’s screensaver or on your refrigerator, you will remember your fitness goals on a daily basis. Let this “ideal look” act as your workout motivation. Thinking about achieving that look may motivate you to run an extra mile on the treadmill or go on daily walks.
Music Playlist
Very few people enjoying working out without a good playlist. Create an upbeat music playlist on Spotify, YouTube or your provider of choice that will motivate you to get moving. If you are the type of person who hates exercising but loves music, think about joining a dance class. Moving your hips to salsa or Zumba for an hour session will be enough to get your heartbeat racing in no time.
Rewards for Good Behavior
Are you not a morning person, but you promised yourself that you’d get a workout in before work? Did you commit to going to gym after work? If so, these promises may be hard to keep because the snooze button can be hard to ignore on some mornings. Also, you may not be in the mood to hit the gym after a long day at work. However, if you know that there is a reward waiting for you if you comply with your daily goals, then it may motivate you to not break your plans. Pick something that is light, quick and pleasurable but that will not undo your workout efforts.
Workout Buddy
If you’re still wondering how to get the motivation to work out, perhaps you need another person to help. Find a like-minded friend or someone who is farther along in their fitness journey to be your accountability partner. You can go to the gym together, sign up for dance classes, go on daily walks or occasional hikes, etc. When you have a friend who believes in the life that you would like to live, you will be one step closer to it.
Acknowledging that your fitness goals need you to move them forward is the first step in making progress. While motivation may seem like an impossible feeling at times, there are tangible ways that you can support yourself in maintaining consistency. Once you form a regular habit of working out, staying active will become second nature.
