How to Finally Find Motivation to Move
By Genevieve Cunningham
One of the hardest parts about beginning and maintaining an exercise routine is finding the motivation. There are certainly times when we feel motivated. Times when we could run out and crush a mile, no problem. But there are other times when we would rather suffer through the flu than we would get up and exercise. Motivation can be a struggle. If you're currently lacking motivation, take a look at these tips for finding the motivation to move so that you can take care of your health moving forward.
Find a Short-Term Goal
One of your first moves in finding motivation is to find a short-term goal. Maybe there's an event, a vacation, or something else that can get you moving. Something that makes you want to feel really good in your own skin. Something that requires a simple five pound weight loss, or something that requires you buy new clothes. A short-term goal can help us begin the process. We know we have to make progress fast, and anything that gets us moving can help us get closer to better health and long-term wellness.
Find a Long-Term Goal
After you've pinpointed a short-term goal and started the fitness process, it's time to find a long-term goal. This kind of goal is something that's a bit further off on the horizon. It's something that we may not achieve for months, or even a year. It could be your total weight loss goal, an event far into the future, a family reunion, a certain size. Or it could be something a bit more powerful -- you want to lift a certain weight, perform a particular yoga move, or run a mile in a certain time. Make sure this goal is something that you really want. While a short-term goal can help you get started, a long-term goal can help you keep going when it gets tough.
Find Something Deeply Personal
A fitness journey is a personal endeavor. Your goals should match that. If you really want it to work, find something deeply personal that keeps you moving. Maybe it's your kids. Maybe it's a personal health struggle. Maybe it's a nod towards your own self-esteem. Whatever it is, find something that speaks to you on a personal level to keep you invested in the long-term nature of the journey.
Remember the Real Workout Hero
While motivation helps, it's not the real superhero of exercise and better health. The real hero is discipline. Discipline is what keeps us moving in the hardest moments. It's what makes us stick with it even when we don't want to. Use motivation to get you started and to spark and interest, and then use discipline to build a healthy lifestyle and all the benefits that come with it.
Motivation is often fleeting. We get bouts of motivation, and then we lose it. And all of that is OK. The key is to find new motivation over and over again, and then to develop discipline to keep you moving. Use these tips to get your body, health, and life moving in the right direction starting now, and to keep it moving in the right direction from here on out.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in South Gate, Calif.