Get out of your February slump
If you're finding it hard to get yourself moving, you're not alone. If you started 2010 bursting with enthusiasm but have since fallen off the fitness wagon, read on for ways in which to boost your motivation and get exercising again.
What do you want and why?
You may know that you want to get fit to improve your overall health, but have you ever thought about the difference this will make to your quality of life? It's one thing knowing what you want to achieve but quite another understanding why you want to achieve it.
Take a few minutes to reflect on what meeting your fitness goals would mean to you. Getting in shape could mean you have the energy and stamina to take a once in a lifetime trip. Losing weight could mean having the confidence to wear a new outfit.
Once you have decided what your goals mean to you, try to imagine exactly how you will feel when you achieve them. Will you feel happy, satisfied, confident, revitalised? Write all of this down somewhere and keep it safe, just a couple of lines will do. Revisiting this personal statement every now and again will help keep you motivated by reminding you of the bigger picture.
Follow up
Once you are clear as to your reasons for exercising you can start to break these goals down into smaller, specific targets. If you want to improve your physical fitness, break this goal down into individual targets to be achieved within a specific time period. You could decide that you want to be able to run for thirty minutes without stopping within two months of starting your new exercise routine. Or if your overall goal is to lose two stone, decide how much weight you need to lose each week to meet this target.
Once you start exercising again, recording your progress in a training diary will make it easy to follow-up on your goals. Just write a brief note on what you achieved after each session, for example how far you cycled or how many calories you burned on your run. Being able to keep track of your progress will remind you of your achievements and help keep you motivated.
Be kind to yourself
Remember we're all individuals and what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. Try making some changes to your routine to see if this helps your motivation. You could exercise in a new location or try a new activity. If you're getting bored of working out in the gym, try swapping a couple of sessions for an aerobics or yoga class. If you usually run on a treadmill, try jogging in the park instead.
Exercising as part of a group can be much more fun than slogging it out alone. Team sports such as football or netball offer a social element as well as good way to get in shape. Look for teams in your local area or get a few people together to start one up. Convince colleagues to play squash after work or join you for a jog at lunchtime.
Listen to your body and don't be too hard on yourself. Make sure you take rest days, eat well to fuel your body and get plenty of sleep. When exercise becomes part of your established routine you will start to notice the physical and mental benefits. Once this happens your motivation levels will soar and there will be no looking back!
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