On days when you're really struggling to motivate yourself to work out, encourage yourself with a small reward system, suggests Mansour. Think of small ways to pamper yourself: get a 10-minute neck massage, for example, or watch an episode of your favorite Netflix show and take advantage of those rewards when you continue with your daily routine. Practical policy update with respect to COVID-19 A study analyzed the effects of “clustering of temptations” and measured the impact of combining rewarding but guilt-inducing experiences of “desire” (enjoying audiobooks that turn pages) with valuable “should” behaviors that delay rewards (exercising). Participants received iPods with four audiobooks of their choice that they could only listen to in the gym.
As a result, they ended up exercising more frequently. And after the study, 61 percent even said that they would pay to have access to such a device only in the gym. So, if you lack motivation to work out, try imitating this study with some of your favorite entertainment. If you're not yet incorporating resistance training into your exercise routine, you might want to start.
A study in older adults found that resistance training helped improve motivation to exercise. The researchers submitted 104 healthy people aged 65 to 75 who didn't meet their physical activity requirements to a regular resistance training plan. After nine months of this training, participants reported that they enjoyed exercising more and leading more active lifestyles. In addition, after the program, nearly half of them continued regular resistance training on their own.
Things always seem to get a little more serious when it comes to money, even when it comes to working out. A study recruited 57 adults with a body mass index between 30 and 40 to lose weight through diet and exercise. Two groups received several financial incentives, while the control group did not. In the end, the incentivized groups lost considerably more weight than the control group, suggesting that cash was a good motivator.
I do some training at least 5 days a week. Notice that I didn't say “exercise five days a week”. Psychologically, that can be a barrier for me. I like the word “training”.
I continuously make small improvements as my body evolves. I have some ideas about specific milestones to achieve, but it's an evolution. Maybe your word is training, training, movement, fitness, activity, exercise, physical training, or possibly physical training. The words we use and how we feel about them have a significant impact on our behavior.
If you say a word in dread or despair, you won't keep what's coherent. The deeper and more emotional the reason why your goal is important to you, the better. Maybe it's to set an example for others, to stay active with your children, or even to not prick needles every day if you have diabetes. You can see this list of 25 benefits of exercise to make your reasons even more compelling.
Scheduling your workouts is very powerful, but we can go one step further. Establish what you will do and where you will do it. You have a specific workout that you will do for as long as you have written down in your calendar. And you know where you'll do it.
If you know what you're specifically doing, where and when, the likelihood of consistency increases dramatically. Maybe you'll simplify your exercise into a 10-minute routine every morning during the week. If you always carry a packed gym bag in your car, you'll be prepared and less likely to skip a workout.
