How to stick with your exercise mindset
You know exercise is good for you. Doing it, though, is another thing.
To stick with your exercise mindset, you need to get out there when that little voice inside you says, "I'll do that tomorrow. Or the day after -- maybe."
Motivation does that, and it's not about just powering through.
1. Lighten Up Your Goals
Your fitness goal may be too big for you right now, especially if you're new to exercise.
Beginners tend to want to go for maximal goals, but they tend to get overwhelmed.
So don’t start off trying to work out an hour every day. Instead, set more reasonable, achievable goals, like exercising 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a week.
2. Track Your Progress
Chart your workouts, whether you do it online or in an old-school fitness journal. Seeing improvements, whether running faster, doing more kicks, or working out more often, makes you want to keep going.
3. Delete Guilt
Get real. You're going to miss a day or two. If you accept that there will be some side steps on your fitness journey, you’ll be better prepared mentally to deal with setbacks.
Don’t let a misstep be an excuse for giving up.
4. Focus Only on Yourself
There will always be someone fitter, faster, or more flexible than you.
Don’t compare yourself to them. Forget about them. Do not let them deter you from your goal. Your workout time is for you, and about you.
5. Get a Cheering Squad
Find a Martial Arts school where instructors and friends will encourage you to stay on track.
The person should be in support, but not say, 'Why can’t you? It’s so easy,'". If helpful reassurance turns into criticism, gently remind your pal that you don’t need nagging.
6. Find the Fun in It
If you can't get motivated, maybe you're doing the wrong activity. Or you used to like it, and now it's gotten stale. Martial Arts are always changing and there is something new and exciting to learn and practice. Pick activities you like the most, and they become something to look forward to. Remember, Martial Arts don’t always have to happen in a gym.
7. Break It Up
Talk yourself into exercising for a few minutes. You may want to keep going. If not, you can do a couple more mini sessions during the day, instead of one long workout.
8. Make It Convenient
When you're busy, don't spend 30 minutes driving to a gym. Limitless Martial Arts has an online program and videos you can use instead. If you're too tired to work out at the end of the day, set your alarm a little earlier and exercise in the morning.
9. Forget the Past
So maybe you weren’t the most athletic kid in high school and were the last chosen for class games. That was years ago. Your goal now is not to win a letter jacket or make the cheerleading squad. You want to exercise to stay healthy and enjoy your life.
10. Reward Yourself
Treat yourself for working out. Get a healthy smoothie or treat. In a typical martial arts class, you burn from 600 to 1100 Kcal, so go ahead, have a treat!
12. Find your tribe
Find a workout that makes you feel good and surround yourself with people that help build your confidence as much as your strength. The cost of putting yourself out there? Priceless.
If you need help getting started, speak with a life coach professional. They are key in helping athletes understand themselves, find what drives and motivates them, and discover what’s holding them back. You can find great tips from professionals like Miriam Guevara at MiriamGuevara.com
Finally, come check us out at Limitless Martial Arts Inc.
We are the right school, the right program, the right team to help you succeed.