For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 1 Timothy 4:8
Today’s world doesn’t require as much movement. The way we live now doesn’t provide many opportunities to move around (we don’t have to be active to get things done). Being inactive is a dangerous feat, yet that is how most people spend their time. The accumulated daily routine of living a sedentary lifestyle have an adverse effect on health. People sit all day without walking, drive everywhere without walking, take the elevator rather than the stairs, etc..these daily routine is not good for the body as it causes health problems that poses a threat to life. We need to stay active to keep fit and improve our health. Exercise is good for the body and mind. It is beneficial to help fight diseases, improve health, have a streamline appearance and also keep fit. Even though a lot of people know how good and beneficial exercise is, it is usually a big task for most people to get up and move.
One of the most common reasons why people do not exercise is lack of motivation. Motivation is not something that happens to you, you have to create it. As much as exercise involves the body, it also involves the mind. You have to intentionally remove the mental roadblocks and internal dialogue preventing you from taking the first step. Once you take the first step, it gets much easier to go all the way. To create and develop the motivation to exercise, there are tips that can be useful.
1) Change your perspective
It is important to change your feeling and perspective towards exercising. This is the reason why people give excuses. Don’t see exercise as hard work, instead see it as something that must be done to help you get better. Focus more on the benefits you are going to gain from doing it, rather than the work you have to put in.
2) Set a goal
Find out your “why”. If you know your “why”, it is easier to achieve the “how”. Why do you want to exercise? What do you want to achieve from doing it? We all have our goals that we want to achieve as it relates with different aspects of our lives; it could be career, marriage, friendships, business, etc. You can also set one for your health. Exercising is one of the best ways to improve health. The same energy applied to achieving the other goals set for other aspects of our lives, can also be applied towards achieving better health. Setting a realistic goal can motivate you. Define the goals, write it down and revisit it daily. Habakkuk 2:2. Defining your “why” for exercise will give you a personal or emotional investment in your goals. Small goals win out every time. Start with daily goals, then weekly goals, monthly goals, and finally, aim to hit your target. Set realistic goals that include clear milestones, and as you progress toward your goal, you will find a ripple effect occur and things fall into place in your work, home, life, and health. It could be to fit into a smaller sized cloth that you got, to be smarter etc
3) Schedule a regular workout routine.
A regular workout routine does not have to take hours. It could be 15-20 minutes. Try to incorporate this set time into your daily schedule. Some of the most committed exercisers wake up very early or do it late at night. Write your workout on your calendar, and rearrange things around the time you have set as if it were any other important appointment you have to keep. Or use technology like daily e-mail reminders, workout journaling websites, or apps to keep you on task. There are apps that have been designed to help you schedule and keep track of your progress. You can also label sticky notes with positive messages about working out. Plaster them on your alarm clock, bathroom mirror, or computer at work. They will serve as a constant reminder to take care of your health.
4) Vary your exercises and make it fun
By nature, humans need change and variety to stay motivated. We also need to have fun even while we’re working hard. Do both. Exercise can be fun for you. Include activities that you enjoy and look forward to doing that can make you forget you are exercising. It could be dancing, exercising while listening to your favourite songs, playing football with friends, etc.
You also have to change your exercise routine, else it becomes boring. Variety challenges your body in unique ways, which may introduce you to new muscle groups you didn’t even know you had. If you play football often, you can decide to take a Yoga class, go swimming, attend a dance class, etc.
5) Get support.. Amos 3:3, Ephesians 4:12,
It is said that iron sharpeneth iron. Proverbs 27:17. You can get support for motivation by making friends with people who are committed to their exercise routine. Make friends with people who can encourage you. Be accountable to one another. You can workout together. This will also help you achieve your goals. It is easy to hit the snooze button or give excuses when it is just you, but much harder to leave a friend waiting. Consider joining a social networking site or online community with fitness trainers and nutrition experts — and support from other people trying to lose weight and maintain healthy eating and exercise routines. People who get this kind of online support are proven to lose up to three times more weight than people going it alone.
6) Go beyond the gym
Exercise can happen just about anywhere, anytime. Each time you climb the stairs, do 25 squats. Balance on one leg while brushing your teeth or make calls while walking.
Finding the motivation to exercise starts with carving out time in your day to make fitness a priority. So, the next time you’re thinking about ditching your workout, try any of these motivational hacks.
