'Fri-YAY Quickie' Staying motivated with exercise...
- shelleyemc
- Sep 24, 2021
- 4 min read
Do I wake up everyday springing out of bed eagerly, singing to the birds, dancing round the house whilst eating a nutritious breakfast in excitement of the day ahead? HELL NO!
Like a normal person, exercising isn't something I look forward to every day. Sure I enjoy it, I find it beneficial to my mind, body & soul BUT like everything, some days are harder than others in staying motivated.
Honestly, life as an adult can be a continuous routine of work, chores, pets/ kids (if you have them), business maintenance, social events, cooking, shopping, partners, sleeping etc. all whilst trying to maintain health, fitness & a balanced intake of food & drink. Usually though, exercise or being active is the first thing that goes when people tell me "I don't have time to exercise, I cant fit it in, its too hard, I cant be bothered, I'm too tired after work"... sound familiar?
I'm not going to sit here & preach about hours, minutes & times in the day you can find to exercise. Instead, I'm just going to say; everyone has different situations so, If complaining about being too tired or not having time makes you feel better, then go for it. If I had a dollar for every time I heard it (or sometimes said it myself!) I would be writing this from the Bahamas in my ocean view hut! haha
The answer is simple: people need to realize doing something, is better than doing nothing.
Finding 10 minutes to stretch, dance around the living room, walk around your block or lay down & do some ab work is still being active! Whom ever imprinted the "working out for 2 hours 7 days a week to get lean" probably was the one saying "eating 1200 calories a day is what it takes to lose weight" (Both those bits of advice are crap btw!)
There is no magic pill for motivation. Continuously putting exercise off until tomorrow isn't going to help you in anyway! If you don't find the time to do something now, I can tell you from a nursing AND fitness point of view, you'll be needing to find time further down the track for physio's, chiros, hospital appointments & even operations... we need to stop being the convenience/ quick fix population we're fast becoming!
Simple tips to get you going & keep you going...
Book exercise in as an appointment into your calendar. This locks in the time for you, makes you more motivated thus being an appointment & able to plan things around that time whether it be 10 minutes or an hour.
Start small. Don't overwhelm yourself. Commit to 3 times a week to start. This includes any activity; walking, home workouts, stretching session, following along to a Youtube video or marching on the spot whilst watching TV
Book into a class somewhere; this holds you accountable, gives you something to look forward to, tries something different & will allow you to meet new people. Paying beforehand also works well for keeping this appointment & actually going!
Remember, not every exercise suits everyone. Some people prefer yoga, walking, hiking, HIIT, cross fit, marathon running, dancing, pole dancing, Ariel yoga, obstacle courses, bouldering etc. If you try something & it isn't for you, don't give up completely, you try the next thing...the options are endless & believe me, there is something for everyone's taste.
Book a PT session. Having someone there to push you through a workout & plan it all out for you, keep you motivated during the time & help you achieve your goals is worth its weight in gold & makes you more inclined to attend being locked in as a weekly appointment.
If you get bored easily, don't do the same activity every time you exercise. Mix it up (hence why PT & group classes are brilliant)
Meet a friend for a walk. No one likes letting someone down & by having someone to rely on you to be there, makes you accountable & a higher chance of following through with the plan (instead of that old chestnut "I'm tired, cant be bothered etc.)
TRY- getting started is the hardest part but trust me, come a month, year or when you get sick... that time doesn't come back & no one wants to hear you constantly complain or make excuses. Start now, make the time & get your ass into gear.
Start with exercise & adapt your eating as you go; starting a chaotic lifestyle change in one day will have you struggling both mentally & physically, then giving up by the end of the week. Small things for long term gains are what we want.
Sounds harsh but, you are responsible for yourself. We all have different life hurdles, disabilities, mental health issues, pain, hectic schedules, limitations etc. The only one you should care about is yourself & being the best version you can be! Comparing ourselves constantly to others is damaging in so many ways & adds extra stressors we don't really need.
If you are worried about where to start, not sure what you are capable of or, thinking you cant do certain things due to injury, illness or any struggles, reach out & ask for help today!
There is always someone wiling to help you succeed & achieve your goals.
Like I said, I don't jump around in excitement at the thought of working a 15 hour day then trying to find time & energy to exercise. Some days I rest & recover, WHICH IS OK! On a day off work, I sometimes have to push myself to get a workout in but once its done, I feel bloody great; even if its just a walk with Misty (my dog).
So, remember; exercising isn't going to be a quick fix thing. It should be part of your lifestyle for health & wellness reasons, not being a "I need to look like that person asap..."
Enjoy & celebrate any activity you do.
Being active isn't a punishment, so if that's how you see it, we need to change that mindset first.
One workout is better than none & simply by trying, you're already winning! Remember that.
You have got this.
You can do this &
You are capable.
Happy Thursday & welcome to Spring!!
If you need a hand to get started feel free to hit me up, I'm always happy to help the journey & if you have any suggestions for a future blog subject, education or guidance in a specific area feel free to message the page now & I will happily try to make it happen :)
- Shelley
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