Exercise motivation can come from a variety of sources, both internal and external.
To increase your exercise motivation, it's important to identify what specifically motivates you and to use that as a foundation for your workout routine. This might involve setting achievable goals related to improving your health or achieving a specific fitness level.
Another way to increase your exercise motivation is to find an enjoyable and sustainable workout routine. This might mean trying out different types of exercise to see what you enjoy the most, or finding a workout partner who can help keep you accountable and motivated.
Setting small, achievable ‘consistency-focused’ goals can help build momentum and create a sense of progress, which can increase your motivation to continue exercising. For example, setting a goal to walk for at least 20 minutes each day or to complete a certain number of push up repetitions each week can provide a sense of accomplishment and help you stay motivated. Action creates motivation so keeping these consistency goals small and readily achievable is important to build the all-important momentum.
Another idea which both me and my personal training clients have benefited from is keeping an exercise journal, with a particular focus on fitness progressions such as personal bests during workouts, consistency of training, increases in physical activity levels etc. Seeing your progress written down on paper is a good reminder of how far you’ve come and provides motivating targets to beat in the days ahead. As part of this journal you can also celebrate how you feel on days when you’ve successfully prioritized exercise which helps retrain your mind to want more of those feelings!
Finally, establishing exercise as a habit can help ensure that you stay motivated in the long-term. This might involve scheduling your workouts at the same time each day, creating a dedicated workout space in your home, or finding a fitness class that is convenient for you to attend regularly. By making exercise an immovable part of your routine, you can help ensure that it becomes a sustainable habit and that you stay motivated to continue exercising.
In conclusion, increasing exercise motivation is about finding what works best for you and creating a sustainable routine. By setting achievable goals, finding an enjoyable workout routine, setting small goals, using accountability and establishing exercise as a habit, you can increase your motivation to exercise and improve your overall health and fitness.