The Fun Factor – Motivate Yourself by Making Exercise Fun
Pretty much everybody knows that you have to exercise if you want to stay healthy. But it’s easier said than done and, at times, it’s just downright boring. More people would exercise more consistently if they enjoyed doing it, but the fact is that a lot of people see it as more trouble than it’s worth. But if you make a few adjustments, it’s possible that you might learn to enjoy exercise almost as much as you enjoy slouching into your couch, watching TV. You might even end up enjoying it more. And your health will certainly benefit from your newfound love for exercise.
One key way to enjoy exercise more is to hate it less. That may seem like a no brainer, but think about it: ask yourself why you hate it too much. If it’s because you don’t like exerting yourself, think more about how good you feel afterwards. Chances are you feel guilty if you don’t exercise, too, and you can banish the guilt by working out. If it’s because you think it’s a waste of time, remember that there are ways to redeem that time and kill two birds with one stone (that’s coming up later). If it’s because you’re not seeing results and are starting to think that this is pointless, cheer up: it takes time to see results and, if you keep it up, you will see them eventually.
Another easy way to increase your enjoyment of exercise is to multitask. Just because your body’s busy doesn’t mean that your mind can’t also be engaged. If you’re running on a treadmill, bring a book or magazine along; you can read as you jog. If the thought of trying to read bouncing words makes you nauseous, try buying audiobooks and listening to them during your workout. If you just want to veg, you can watch TV or a movie as you exercise. Think of the time you’ll save!
One of the best ways to motivate yourself to exercise and increase the fun factor is to add a friend. Jog with a friend, and you can catch up while you jog. Go to a fitness class and make new friends. Or start playing a team sport. They call it “playing” for a reason. And keep things fresh by switching up your regimen from time to time. If you take these steps, you’ll soon see that exercise can be tons of fun.
