Every person who exercises regularly, whether an athlete or not, will have to cope with lack of motivation, boredom, or burnout at one time or another. Here are some helpful tips that can keep you motivated to stick to your routine.
1. Make a commitment. Once you decide to make exercise a part of your life, take precautions that will keep you on the right track.
* Arrange your personal circumstances so your lifestyle supports your commitment.
* Make time for exercise.
* Seek the support of others, but realize the prime reason to exercise must come from within yourself.
2. Define your fitness goals. Write down realistic short-term and long-term goals. Your goals provide a path for a specific direction and let you know how you are doing.
3. Repetition. Repetition is the key to mastery. It takes 21 days for the mind and body to create a new habit. During this time, remind yourself that for at least 21 consecutive days you'll stick to your new exercise program. It also helps to share your goals with a trusted friend.
4. Reaffirm your fitness goals daily. Post your goals and your plans for achieving them where you can see them every day.
5. Visualize your fitness goals. Visualizing your fitness goals as already completed will increase your motivation, keep you on course, and hasten your success.
6. Keep track of your daily progress. Plan your workouts in advance and keep track of your progress in a diary or on a calendar. Seeing your daily accomplishments is encouraging and increases self-esteem.
7. Be realistic. Don't set yourself up to fail. If you've just started a walking program and are now up to 2 miles nonstop, don't make it one of your goals to run a marathon at the end of the month.
8. Exercise with someone else. Working out is easier when you have someone to do it with. Many times I've been grateful for friends who got me through a workout I might have skipped if I were working out alone.
9. Use affirmations. Affirmations greatly enhance motivation. They can be mental, verbal, written, or recorded on a cassette. Keep affirmations positive and in the present.
10. Reward yourself. You've kept your agreement; you've worked out hard; you've been consistent; and you're seeing positive results. Reward yourself. Rewards increase motivation and create positive associations toward your exercise program.
