Why are some people more motivated to exercise than others?

Blog content provided from the legendary team at Northern Inland Academy of Sport

There are multiple barriers that can arise when people think about exercising. Maybe you’re short on time? Maybe it’s raining outside? Maybe you find it difficult or boring or maybe you ‘don’t feel like it’ and would rather ‘just start tomorrow’. Whatever the struggle, there are always ways to help yourself find more motivation to exercise.

1. Find what works for you.

Remember that not everyone is the same, and this means different individuals will enjoy different ways of getting their exercise. Some will prefer to go for brisk walks, others will prefer to run 10km around town, some like doing group fitness classes and others may like to pump some iron at their local gym. It’s important to find activities that you will not only benefit from, but that you also enjoy. Otherwise, lets face it, it will be very difficult to build up the motivation to exercise regularly.

2. Set achievable goals.

Setting short-term and long-term exercise goals will make it easier to find reasons for why you are working out. Setting short term goals are very important as they will keep you motivated to achieve your long-term objectives and act as an intrinsic reward every time you reach one. Your goals may focus on becoming healthier, gaining more muscle, reducing stress, being regularly active, or even as simple as spending more quality time with your beloved pet. Whatever your goal is, write it down and stick to it!

3. Dedicate specific time to exercise

Allocating set times or setting a schedule to exercise during the week can help your accountability. Sticking to something structured will help you to form a habit over time. It will also mean you are dedicating yourself to exercising frequently and not just when you feel like it – which, depending on your goals, will help you reach them that bit quicker. By penciling in time to exercise each week, you can mentally prepare and plan for each session, so your exercise activity will be more efficient and effective.

4. Positivity works wonders!

Think of all the positive benefits you get from exercising. Exercising in any form whether it be walking, running, weightlifting, swimming or playing sport is not only great for your physical health, but by releasing endorphins this will assist in keeping mentally healthy and reducing stress too. But there’s more to exercising then health benefits; it can be a great excuse to exercise with a friend, play with your pets, get outside and enjoy fresh air or listen to your favourite tunes and podcasts.

5. Track your Progress

Now that you’ve set your goals, have an exercise schedule, and know some of the benefits of getting exercise, you should start tracking your progress! Why? To see how far you’ve come and how much you have achieved. Taking before and after photos of your weight loss or muscle mass journey can be a great way to physically see what you have achieved (but you don’t have to). Keeping a diary with information on each of your sessions will show you the progress and improvements you’ve made since beginning your dedicated journey. If you would rather join the digital age, then why not use fitness trackers or health apps to help keep you on track.

I guess what we really want to share with you is that, exercising doesn’t have to be a job; it can be what you look forward to each week. There are many tips for getting and staying motivated, these are just a few.

Challenge yourself to stick to your goals and you may surprise yourself in what you achieve.

To learn more about fitness and wellbeing visit the Wellness Hub.

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