Happy holidays to all! I was recently featured in Fitness Motivation Tips by 100 Experts for 2017 and thought this would be a great time to post a blog about being healthy and staying motivated for the new year. With the help of Cathy Scarlett, Health and Fitness author and editor, here are some wellness tips to get you motivated.
Having a fitness routine is great, but if you are doing the same exercise every day, chances are you will lose your motivation soon. This happens to most of us because when we start our fitness sessions we are highly motivated, but as days and weeks pass, our motivation starts to fade away. One day we skip the gym and the next days we never show up again. If you are at such a point in your fitness routine, you may benefit from these suggestions. Even if you are not lacking motivation, these tips can help you stay consistent and never miss a workout.
1. Set smart goals. Setting goals is one thing and setting SMART goals is another. To explain this further, suppose you are thinking of losing 60 pounds. If you try to achieve that in your first month and make it your goal, you will never be able to achieve it. Rather, you will get disappointed and lose all your motivation because you couldn’t achieve your goal. Instead, set a goal of 15 pounds and you will be able to achieve it and be happy about it. Smart goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. Next time you set a goal for yourself, make sure it meets the smart criteria so that you can realistically look at achieving it.
2. Enjoy the exercise. Build a routine, but make it fun. Instead of doing the same workout over and over, look for new programs and exercises. Add some fun to your gym time so that you look forward to going back again. Don’t go for exercises that you don't like. If you hate running, don’t do it very often. Aim for an exercise routine that you will love, and create a mix of workouts to keep it interesting.
3. Schedule and stick. Make room for exercise in your daily routine and then stick to it. We all have busy lives and never find enough time to do things that are not on the schedule. If you think of doing your workout someday, that someday will never come. Instead set a time daily for your visit to the gym. You can start with 15 minutes and extend it to 30 minutes or an hour. However, make sure you do it on a regular basis.
4. Pick your partner. Having a workout buddy helps a lot. However, it is important to pick the right one(s). If you have a partner who only shows up at the gym to hang around and have some fun, then you need a different buddy. Find someone who is as much motivated toward their fitness goals as you. This is great because positive competition can create a sense of achievement and devotion. Build a support system of friends and family around you who share the same interests. A workout buddy can help you on these days when you don’t feel like getting up in the morning and going out.
5. Reward yourself. Remember how we used to get excited about achieving certain goals as kids when our parents or teachers set rewards for them? It is human nature to strive for acknowledgment and reward. If you perform well and stick to your routine for a week, reward yourself with something that you enjoy.
6. Take a break for good. Even though maintaining your daily routine is important to achieve your fitness goals, sometimes it’s okay to break your rules. If there is a fun activity in town that you have always wanted to do, skip your workout and take part in the activity. If a great vacation opportunity arises, don't pass it up for the sake of your gym time. Breaks can actually help improve productivity and achieve goals, in the long run.
For lots more great tips on getting or staying motivated to work out,
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Photo from here, with thanks.