Exercising on a regular basis is linked to a long list of physical, mental and emotional health benefits, but it can still be difficult to remain motivated and stay on task with your fitness goals.
Fortunately, there are numerous methods that you can use to keep you moving in the right direction.
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of proven techniques that can make it easier for you to stick to a workout regimen.
1. Exercise with a Friend
Social obligations are a compelling force — they can make you leave the house when you would much rather spend the entire day binge watching your favorite TV show on Netflix.
It makes perfect sense to recruit your significant other or a friend to regularly workout with you. Experts have said that those who exercise with a partner have an almost 90 percent higher adherence rate to their scheduled routines.
Giving yourself a social obligation just might be the biggest motivator of all time.
2. Use Brain & Body Supplements
Nootropics are popular among people who wish to improve their cognitive performance. There have also been several studies that have shown the right combination can be beneficial for athletes and others who need to remain motivated throughout a rigorous physical activity.
One of the most popular stacks includes Sulbutiamine, Phenylpiracetam and Cocoa. Scientific research has found that this particular combination may help boost your mood, increase your memory retention and enhance your overall cognitive functionality.
Each of these components renders most people more capable of remaining motivated, and they may also enable you to more easily memorize and recall each portion of your workout routine.
3. Pay for Your Workouts
Signing up for a gym membership may have once been famously satirized on Friends, when Ross and Chandler wanted nothing more than to quit, but the reality is that most people are highly motivated by money.
Consider for a moment other situations in life when you’ve invested $20 or more into a planned outing and then felt obligated to go even if you were sick. This same principle applies to a gym membership.
After all, if the gym is taking money out of your account every month, it will feel more necessary to actually use your membership.
4. Keep an Exercise Log
Whether you use an app, a physical calendar or post about each workout on Facebook, it’s a good idea to keep a visual record of your accomplishments. Not only will this make you feel good about each time that you exercise but it’ll also give you a healthy dose of shame when you fail to follow through with a planned workout session.
Make sure your log exists on or in something that you look at on a daily basis in order to get the best results. If you want to use your Facebook profile without becoming annoying to your friends, you can change the privacy setting for each of your workout posts to “only me.”
5. Use a Rewards System
Do you have a favorite piece of chocolate or other small indulgence that you typically try to avoid? As long as it has a minimal amount of calories, fat and sugar, you can use it as a reward you allow yourself after a successful workout.
You can make this process as healthy as possible by choosing the smallest serving size. For example, if you love Hershey’s bars, make sure you purchase the miniature size and only have one after each session.
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Research indicates that a lack of regular physical activity causes approximately 3.2 million preventable deaths every year. Living a sedentary lifestyle can also lead to diabetes, cancer, depression and heart disease.
With this in mind, it is critical to do whatever is necessary to keep yourself motivated not only throughout each workout but also to start exercising in the first place. Turning to easy-to-use techniques like those listed above could make the difference between a long, happy life and an early, preventable death.
It can sometime be hard to motivate one’s self. I often found that having a workout partner that you could use to keep each other accountable seemed to work fairly well for me in the past. These tips you list are excellent and a wonderful resource for others.