Exercise is important at every age, but it becomes increasingly important as we get older. Regular physical activity helps to maintain our strength, balance, and flexibility, which can help to prevent falls and injuries. Exercise can also improve our cardiovascular health, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other conditions. And don't forget about the mental health benefits of exercise! Regular physical activity has been shown to improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and even improve cognitive function.
Despite all of these benefits, it can be tough to find the motivation to exercise on a daily basis, especially as we get older. We may feel like we don't have the energy, time, or resources to commit to a regular exercise routine. But the good news is that there are plenty of ways to find your daily exercise motivation and make exercise a sustainable part of your life. Here are 13 tips to help you get started!
Top 13 Ways to Find Exercise Motivation
-
Work Out with a Partner
Working out becomes more fun if you have someone else doing it with you. Ask your friends or family to join you on your workout journey. They can either perform their own workout routine, or they can adopt yours. If you both follow the same workout routine, you can challenge each other, making things more interesting. This will also motivate you to outperform the other person. However, for those who can be overly competitive, make sure you don't hurt yourself while trying to outdo the other person.
-
Start Slowly and Gradually Increase
This is the basic rule of working out. You always start slow and then gradually increase the intensity of your workout. Beginning with an intense workout will only be problematic for you in the long run, resulting in either burnout or injury. You will not be able to go past a few days if you give your all on the best day. Try to increase your endurance and stamina gradually. You need to start at a slower pace and then slowly make your way up. Beginning with an intense workout routine will demotivate you and make you question your decision to work out.
-
Set Realistic Goals
You have to realize that you can only do a certain amount of working out, and you can only perform certain types of exercises. Always set realistic SMART goals. Don't think about running on the treadmill at the top speed or go straight for the biggest set of dumbells. Think safety first. Try to set realistic goals like walking for 20 minutes or doing ten sit-ups. With time, as you build more strength, you can increase the volume and intensity of the workout.
-
Take Time Out for a Little Stroll
If you are a nature lover, nothing will motivate you more than the beauty of nature itself. Try to take out time from your daily routine and go for a little stroll. See the beauty around you. Walk around the neighborhood, and you may not even realize that, by walking, you are actually performing an exercise while checking out nature's beauty around you.
-
Make It Fun
Everything is more effective when you enjoy doing it. So try to choose exercises that you like. Make your workout routine fun. You can make it fun any way that you like Consider walking, swimming, spinning, yoga, or anything else active that makes you happy. Just remember to have fun doing it, and you will be more likely to stay motivated.
Keep reading - 7 Ways to Make Exercising More Fun!
-
Reward Yourself
Always reward yourself for the workouts you do. Try to stick to your routine. If you fail, don't reward yourself. However, if you complete the routine for seven days in a row, treat yourself to a nice lunch or buy yourself something. Then keep rewarding yourself after every specific interval. The reward can be anything that you like. Get creative. When you know you have an award waiting for you at the end of the week, you will be more motivated to exercise.
-
Keep A "Never Give Up" Attitude
One of the most significant sources of motivation is your own mind. When you keep it positive, you get motivated. So always have a positive attitude and never give up. This will help you keep on track with your workout routine every day.
-
Remember Why You Started
Working out can get intense, especially at an older age. So if you feel like giving up, remember why you started. Do you want to feel lazy and weak? Or, do you want to maintain a good and healthy lifestyle?
-
Watch Success Stories on the Internet
Another way to get motivated to exercise is to watch success stories of people who improved their fitness at your age. Try to listen to stories from other people. When people tell their stories, it adds a personal touch to the whole thing. When you see their stories, you start thinking to yourself, "If they can do it, so can I". Consider joining Instagram, where you can find and follow fitness influencers. Learn from them how they did it as well. You're bound to pick up some helpful tips that will improve your success!
-
Surround Yourself with Motivational Quotes
One of the best ways to motivate yourself is to surround yourself with motivational quotes. Hang motivational quotes on your room walls and even write some quotes on a piece of paper and stick it on your fridge. Place the motivational quotes all around the house and read them every day. When you see and read these quotes repeatedly, every day, your mind trains you to prepare for the things you have been trying to avoid.
-
Listen To Music or Audiobooks
Studies have shown that music and motivational audiobooks are a great way to boost your morale when you are working out. You can also listen to motivational audio on your mobile phone. David Goggins is one of the more well-known motivational speakers who focuses on working out and staying fit.
-
Do It for the People Who Never Believed In You
There will always be people who think badly about you and who don't believe in your goals. These are the people who follow your actions the most. They are always looking at you, and it is up to you to prove them wrong. Many people will put you down, especially because of your age, but you should use this criticism as motivation and show them why they are wrong. Follow a healthy workout routine. Do it for the people who never believed in you.
-
Hire a Coach
If the above tips aren't quite working for you, consider hiring a fitness coach or professional trainer. Many people find it to be very helpful to be held accountable by another person. This option is more expensive but may be much more effective. Your coach will be there to ensure you are working out regularly and will provide you with the confidence that you are spending your time and efforts effectively by doing the right workouts to meet your goals.
Let us know in the comments below - How do you motivate yourself to exercise?