Daily Burn recently dug into the science of why it’s so hard for people to stick to their exercise routines. Here are a few of their recommended strategies to try to keep yourself accountable and looking forward to your daily workout.
- Reward Yourself
Says Sarah Elizabeth Richards, Daily Burn writer, “‘Sure, some people might be motivated by vague goals such as “better health” or “weight control.’ But if that’s not doing it for you, journalist Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business advises making the benefits of working out more tangible, such as by treating yourself to a favorite food or an episode of The Leftovers afterwards.” Decide on a reward that you feel is worth it—and don’t cheat! Only reward yourself when you’ve reached your goal.
- Make a Bet
Get competitive with your workout plan by making a bet with a friend. Plan out a weekly fitness schedule or sign up for a class together. Any time one of you breaks routine or skips the class, loser has to pay up or do a big favor. “I say I’m going to make a commitment to do something for a certain amount of time, such as exercising 30 minutes three times a week for 12 weeks,” says Jeremy Goldhaber-Fiebert, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University. “If I don’t do that, I’m going to pay some kind of penalty, whether it’s monetary or the embarrassment of having friends know I didn’t live up to my word.”
- Think Positive
Lots of people get discouraged about their workout because they only allow themselves to focus on the negatives. Working out is hard work, it’s uncomfortable, the list of excuses can be endless. Daily Burn recommends focusing on the positives when its time to get active, like thinking about how much better you’ll feel about yourself when you’re done or how happy you will be when you feel your body getting stronger. Daily Burn article writer Richards says, “…when I’m deciding whether to get out of bed to go running in the morning, it helps to imagine how the sun will feel on my face as I run around the reservoir. Or how delighted I’ll be when I see my new muscles developing.”
- Use “Pact”
Nobody likes to lose money—but have you ever considered using that as motivation to get yourself to the gym? Pact is an app that encourages people to live healthier and be more active by paying members who reach their goals, and charging others who don’t. “You just need to get people to keep doing an activity, and paying them money was effective,” explains study author Gary Charness, PhD, behavioral economist at the University of California at Santa Barbara, describing his findings of paying participants monetary incentives to go to the gym.
Be sure to visit http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/workout-motivation-tips/ to read the full article and hear what the fitness experts and behavioral scientists have to say on fitness motivation.
No matter where you find your motivation, your friends at Beechmont Racquet & Fitness will always be happy to work with you to get in your workout groove. Whether its finding a new, exciting fitness routine or figuring out what works best with your schedule, we’re happy to assist you on your journey to building a happier, healthier you.