How to Motivate Yourself
If getting active and staying healthy were easy, everyone would do it, but we don’t. We come home after a long day of sitting in a chair to de-stress by sitting in another chair, unable to summon the energy to take a walk or hit the gym. Sure, everyone says to “make time for what’s important to you,” but oversimplification doesn’t make the struggle easier. Let’s break down the mental walls keeping you from taking care of yourself.
You have plenty of options if you’re not sure how to get active and get in shape. Combined with the personal trainer in your pocket in the form of your phone, you have all the tools you need to get healthy. So why haven’t you?
A 20-Minute Daily Exercise Plan for People Too Busy to Work Out
You lead busy a life, and finding time to stay healthy is tough. Fortunately, all you need is 20 minutes a day.
Whether it’s time management, stress, a busy job, bustling family life, or something else, I’m going to help you break down the barriers that may keep you from getting up and active.
No Excuses: Tear Down Those Mental Walls
First of all, if you’re struggling with a sedentary lifestyle, you’re not alone. Millions are just like you, and we all know we should get moving, but we stumble and fall back into old habits or never get the traction you need. This is completely normal. Very few people spring out of bed one day and say “I’m going to change my behavior for the better for the rest of my life,” do it, and never look back. In the real world things are different. Here are some things to remember:
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. You are often your own biggest hurdle. You are simply too hard & expect too much. You think it has to be much harder than it has to be and when you don’t live up to the expectations you’ve set, it all begins to fall apart. This is the cycle many of you know: you start something with good intentions, stumble, get frustrated, and give up. Be nice to yourself—stumbles and failures are going to happen, no one’s perfect.
- Don’t get caught up in the “all or nothing” mindset. Exercise doesn’t have to be complicated. Doing something is better than doing nothing. Sure, you could be doing more or could be doing better, but if in the long run that gets in the way of you doing anything at all then it’s not use to you. Do what you can do and do consistently then worry about optimizing later as you gain traction.
Understand how habits work. Most people fail in fitness because they never enter a self-sustaining positive feedback loop. In fact, most people don’t even start. In order to be successful at fitness, it needs to be in the same category of the brain as sleeping, eating, and sex. If exercise worked the way it does in the movies—where a montage plays and after every workout you look better and see results instantly, more people would stick to it. The key is to find a routine replacement that works for you, and that gets results for the energy you put into building it into your habits
You’re not lazy, you’re just starting from zero. One discouraging thing you’ve probably thought before is that you’re just lazy and will give up eventually, so why bother. To say that people don’t exercise because they are lazy is actually backwards. Often times, people are actually lazy because they’re out of shape and don’t exercise! It’s easy for someone in-shape to tell someone who’s having a tough time that they’re just lazy, but the truth is running a mile for a couch potato is far more difficult and requires more physical and mental will than it does for someone who does five every day. Recognize that, especially when you start down the slippery slope of comparing yourself—and your habits—to others.
Find your “Secret Sauce”. A lot of people will tell you to “just put the fork down,” or “just get up and do it,” which is easy when that person isn’t you, and is sitting behind a keyboard. Don’t listen to them. Minimizing and oversimplifying the challenge doesn’t help. Hearing what worked for others can help you figure out things to try, it’s almost never going to be exactly what works for you. Look for your own combination of tools, tips, techniques, and advice that will support you and your health and fitness goals. Accept advice, sure, but remember you’re in this for you—no one else and you’re the only one who’ll know what really works
Remember, health and wellness are extremely personal. You’ll be assaulted on all sides by articles, scams, self-help books, poorly-reported scientific studies, internet and more who all claim they know what will work for you. It usually boils down to what worked for them or what they’re willing to sell you (which is not so great.) Having an abundance of options isn’t a bad thing, but remember you are in this for you!
Stay Motivated and Engaged to Stick With Your Plan
So what does work? Well, there’s more information and advice out there than you could ever possibly use, but the key is to figure out what you’ll stick with, so don’t be afraid to experiment! Just remember what we said: if you stumble or falter, that means you just need to try something new or start slower—not that there’s something wrong with you.
Set the Bar Low and Start Small. The first time I started working out, I decided to exercise daily for a half hour. Sounds good, right? Well, starting from zero to every day worked well for a while, but when I had to miss a day because I worked late, was sick, or my schedule changed, I felt terrible. Eventually I gave up, and beat myself up over it until I could get motivated to start again. Don’t make the same mistake. If you’re having trouble with every day, start with twice a week, or once. Whatever it is, start with something you can definitely do effortlessly. This is where suggestions like parking on the far end of the lot and taking the stairs come into play.
Instead of setting out to exercise 5-6 times a week, aim to do 1-2 times – consistently. Set the bar low so that you can build up initial success and build the self confidence and examples of winning that you’ll need once things get harder. On Sunday nights, schedule your workout times into your calendar for the week. That removes a ton of excuses as you really never ‘just fit a workout in’ when you’ve got a free moment. You’re too busy! Schedule it in advance and it’ll be top of your mind! The time for ambitiousness is after you have a track record of success. Remember, you are trying to get started, and getting started is hard enough.
Whatever You Do, Make It Fun.. Whatever you do, enjoy it. Choose something rewarding enough to make you feel good about doing it. If you’re having a good time, mistakes feel like learning experiences and challenges to be overcome, not throw-up-your-hands-and-give-up moments. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you’ll have a great time doing, and is low-enough impact that you can get in, keep up, and slowly challenge yourself as it progresses.
Use Technology Wisely: To Recount Your Victories. Technology can be a huge benefit to help you see your progress in a way that looking in the mirror won’t show you. Keeping a calendar as a visual track of your victories, each time you stick to your plan, whether it’s diet, exercise, or both, mark it on the calendar. The goal is to keep that track record, whether it’s on a calendar, in an app, or on a website.. Just remember, tracking your efforts is just a method to get feedback and track your progress. Your tech should be a means to building better habits, not the habit in itself. In a few months, you don’t want to still feel miserable every time you begin a workout, or know you have to work out today—it should be second nature, just something you do, like taking a shower or doing the laundry.
How Can I Fit a Workout into My Daily Routine?
the turning point is when you realize that you are in total control of our choices—not someone else who with a fad diet or book to sell—and that can be incredibly empowering. Once you make that realization, you should always remember where you are now when it comes to health and fitness. Whether it’s diet or exercise, being honest with your current situation will keep you from being too ambitious and setting yourself up for failure, or from giving up entirely. Begin where you are, not where you want to be. Becoming overwhelmed initially is the fastest way to halt all progress. As you get better, do better, and not a moment sooner.
I know you want to get in shape and look great. Whatever your fitness goal…to slim down…gain muscle…tone your arms or flatten your tummy…I’m here to help you accomplish your goals and to improve your fitness level. If you have enjoyed this article and the many other free features on my site, and would like some more comprehensive information such as fitness books and CD’s to aid you in achieving your health and fitness goals, please visit my ONLINE STORE where you will find innovative natural health and beauty products to help you become the BEST YOU CAN BE !