This is a great question. I’ve personally been listening to David Goggins’ biography ‘Can’t Hurt Me’ and reading Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, and changed my approach. I don’t look for motivation, I look more to it being my second job. I’m good at my job, I like my job, and I feel that my job is important and rewarding. Despite that, I don’t always want to go to work, but I do it anyway because that’s what needs to be done. Motivation is a great starting point, but motivation gets hit hard by small setbacks - I’m tired, it’s cold, I’m running late. A sense of duty will get you through these.
Two things work for me: keeping feeling proper perspective and listening to music. First I acknowledge my feelings but remember they are only a small reason I am exercising. My decision to habitually exercise will, I know, pay off big returns today and in the future. My feelings today do not have control over my future. Secondly, I put on great workout music as I get ready to exercise. By the time I am placed up, my feelings are usually good too.
I visualize how I want to look and remind myself it takes consistent small actions to get long lasting results. I face reality by taking a picture of myself to end denial and accept myself as I am right now with room for improvement. I decide to love myself enough to make the changes necessary to do all the things I want to do and live a healthy life.
Lately I’ve just been saying, “look, just put your gear on and do 5 minutes of exercise”. That’s such a do-able timeframe that I usually end up doing longer anyway and I have a sense of accomplishment rather than failure.
How strong is your will to be a greater version of who you are today? Will you settle for mediocre or strive to be better. My motivation is reminding of how far I’ve come but always thinking of where I need to go. It no longer is about wanting to do it. It is about needing to do it.
I make it a habit and I motivate myself and even though sometimes I feel tired during the day, I push myself through the day and I make the time to workout.
I start to think about the end of it, when I all sweaty and energetic and happy and breathless after the exercise, and also consider the result of it , a good shape body and good feeling inside.
Often the reason I don’t want to exercise is because I feel too tired. If I go to bed too late I find it very difficult to get up in the morning to head to the gym. And the same if I finish work too late in the evening. Even if there is just a small amount of doubt in my head about exercising I tend to have an internal argument with myself about going to the gym! My biggest motivator is that I know if I go - even for 15 mins - it’s going to make me feel better. I never regret going but I regret not going! Also I’m sick of a few years of being just a little bit fat. I want my bikini body back! I have a pair of jeans in my wardrobe that I want to fit into again. Thinking of those jeans motivates me!
Hi Whenever I don’t feel like exercising I do move any sort of movement just for minutes, jumping jacks,push ups, squats, arms routine....ex Try to keep healthy options for the rest of the day.
In such moments I usually choose physical activity that I really like, for example Qi Gong exercises. I think how wonderful I feel myself during the exercising process and after it. It’s the best motivation for me.
Answers reflect the personal experiences of Fabulous community members. They are not medical or professional advice — for guidance about your health, talk to a qualified professional.
