Bored of exercising?

7 ways to keep yourself motivated:

A common person knows the benefits of exercising on health, overall well-being and happiness. However, there are only few who continue the focus and discipline day after day, month after month and year after year.

Most people are not able to.

Following are few of the ways consistently fit people have been able to use to keep them regular with their exercise routines:

1. Set a goal – A goal could be reducing blood pressure and cholesterol in 3 months or run for 20 mins straight or 10 pushups in 3 weeks. The days when you feel slack, the focus on your goal will keep you on track.

2. Keep workouts short: Unless you are into competitive bodybuilding or a professional athlete, you do not need to spend more than 45 mins a day on exercising. Keep it short but high in intensity. If you spend long hours exercising such that it comes in the way of your daily chores, you will run out of steam quickly and bunk exercising all together.

3. Change your workouts :
   1. For cardio, try a mix of long distance running, short sprints, swimming, bhangra or Zumba or any sport.
   2. For Strength, try gym workout with weights, crossfit, body weight exercises, functional training.
   3. Couple days a week try Yoga and Pilate.

4. Change the location of your workouts: Try outdoor workout at the park or water workout. Often times, just changing the location builds excitement and freshness. Every month, I plan an outdoor workout with my clients.

5. Get a partner : Partners inspire and push one another. We like to have friends with who we can connect with when exercising. My partner workout sessions are always more fun than solo workouts. The chatter, the laugh, the energy is incomparable.

6. Make it a social affair : Why do we like to eat and drink? Because we do those in company of other people. Similarly, when we workout in a place where others can appreciate our hard work and discipline, our chances of going to that place regularly increases many folds.

I go to my community gym for my workout. I enjoy acknowledging the hard work of my gym friends while sharing my workouts for the day. Sometimes we partner for fun exercises like stair hops, plank walks, pushups.. and end up rolling on the floor laughing in pain.

7. Get an energetic trainer : If you have tried everything, but still cannot get yourself to be regular, hiring a knowledgeable and energetic trainer will definitely add value. A good trainer will assess your capability, set up your workouts accordingly, make sure it is challenging and fun. A good trainer will slowly and progressively build your strength, stamina and flexibility. Your progress will motivate you and she will make sure you leave the session feeling accomplished.

However, motivation is an inside job. If one is not motivated by themselves, no number of tips will ever work.

All the best. Keep exercising, be fit, be healthy, be happy!