Tips to maintain motivation
- Learn to focus on what you feel during exercise instead of on the activity itself. Observe what is going on around you; notice the sky, humans, sounds etc. This will help you to become aware of your progress.
a. How do you feel when you are active and participating?
b. How do you feel after exercising?
c. Was the exercise easier yesterday? Did you feel more or less tired?
- Motivate yourself in a positive way. Remind yourself how good it feels to be outdoors or active. Appreciate yourself when you overcome a moment of low motivation and complete your exercise. Realize how good it is to achieve your goal, particularly when you thought about giving up at some point for that day.
- Do not forget that physical activity improves your mood. This not only alleviates stress but also helps to fight against sadness and depression. If your motivation is down because you are bored, remind yourself how you will instantly feel better after exercising.
Every time you achieve your goal for that day, reward yourself with an activity you really enjoy such as watching a new episode of your favorite TV show. After a while, your exercise will be the reward itself. For instance, after you have spent a long day in front of your computer monitor, you will want to reward yourself with a walk in the park.