Finding the motivation to become a healthier version of yourself can be difficult. Exercise can be seen as daunting for many reasons. There are a few things that we can do to strengthen ourselves against any pitfalls that we may encounter. These are things or items that can be used as confidence boosters or motivational tools. It is important to note that I am not a health or fitness expert. These are ideas from my own experience that I hope will be helpful.
A friend is one of the easiest additions to our exercise regimen. Not just a person who you can speak with about your ups and downs, but someone to join us on the journey. Having someone to climb a hill with or to take a morning walk with can be a big boost for staying on track with your fitness.
An activity tracker can be an ideal supplemental tool. This can be very elaborate or simple. You can get a tracker that will tell you your heart rate, pulse, number of steps each day, stairs climbed each day, the number of minutes of activity, sleep statistics, calories burned, distance moved and reminders to move to name a few things. Even adding an app to your phone that tracks a specific activity, like your running, can be a boost. The simple act of looking at your tracker or phone can be like having a cheerleader in your corner saying, “You can do a little bit more”. I am using a Garmin Vivosmart HR+ tracker. It has been life changing. When I began using it, I thought I was much more active than it showed. Since then, I have slowly increased my activity level.
A measurement log is a good long term motivational tool. It is important to recognize that this does not yield an instant result. For a measurement log, you take the size of certain parts of your body. These measurements are kept on the log along with the date they are taken. A picture is an optional part that can be added as a visual refernece as well. I would suggest to not take a repeat set of measurements more often than every thirty days.
Downloading to or streaming music from any device that will be with you while exercising is optimal. Upbeat music can get the adrenaline flowing quickly which can boost our motivation instantly. Finding beats that are catchy but also rhythmic is key. A song with an underlying rhythmic movement can do wonders when you reach that point in your exercise when you wonder if you can do it.
Wear clothes that fit you well at your current weight. Many of us fall into the trap of buying the clothes we want to wear when we reach our ideal weight. These clothes taunt us and are just as unhelpful to our confidence as when we buy clothes that are a little too tight. Not having our clothes fit well can also decrease our motivation to exercise because you can feel like you’re not getting anywhere. We can purge our wardrobe and have clothes that fit well now. Treat yourself to a little shopping spree when you achieve a weight milestone even if it isn’t your ideal weight. Remember, you want to feel confident in what you are wearing right now.
Finally, use a journal. This journal can be for keeping track of which exercises you complete, when and how long the exercise lasted. You can use a journal to track your weight. I think weight tracking should be done on a few set days of the month. I find that if you do not set a date to check your weight it can be overwhelming and ultimately hinder our motivation to exercise.