A common problem when executing any fitness plan is staying motivated. We have briefly touched on a few things and are going to give you some more ideas that we believe will help you stay motivated.
Goals
The first is having a goal. This gives you something to strive for and rewards you with satisfaction when you complete it. See Part 2 of our guide Setting Target Goals for more info.
Rewards
When you complete a goal reward yourself. If there is some item you really want to buy, wait until you complete a goal then use that as your reward.
Daily Routine
If you make working out part of your daily routine you are more likely to make it a permanent habit. Scheduling exactly what you want to do and writing it on a calendar is highly recommended. Also try exercising first thing in the morning since you are more likely to do it and you are less likely to make excuses due to lack of time than if you scheduled it for later in the day.
Variety and Fun
Make sure you add plenty of variety into your fitness plan to keep it fresh and fun. We highly recommend doing sports or activities that you enjoy like basketball, tennis, hiking, riding a bicycle, dancing or swimming to mix it up and a little competition can also be highly motivating.
Social Support
Getting a workout buddy, group of friends, or personal trainer can help you to stay accountable and support each other when the going gets tough. You are less likely to blow off working out if you are supposed to meet someone to do it.
Music
During the actual workout there is nothing like music to actually motivate you. Get a playlist together of your favorite upbeat or inspirational songs. If you need some ideas see our huge list of workout music.
Final Thoughts
During this series, The Complete Guide to Getting Fit, we hope we have given you a solid overview and foundation to starting a new life. We hope you start today. If you still don’t know or are not sure what to do then just start walking. Shoot for 10,000-15,000 steps per day while you think about how else you want to fit exercise into your way of life. We have lots of other articles on this site concerning fitness, nutrition, exercise equipment, and supplements so take some time and look around.
