How To Get Motivated To Exercise

Struggling To Find Motivation?

If you have to try to motivate yourself to do something, obviously it’s something you don’t really want to do.

You don’t have to motivate yourself to watch your favourite show. You don’t have to motivate yourself to shower and brush your teeth.

Even if you don’t really want to shower or brush your teeth, you do it (hopefully) because you know it must be done or the consequences are more unpleasant. 

So if you struggle to motivate yourself to do something, either:

1. You really don’t want to do it, or

2. You do not really see that there are consequences for not doing it.

The Consequence Of Not Moving Every Day

What people call “exercise” is really just a way of saying move/use your body sufficiently daily. If you don’t use your body enough, and in the right ways, there are definitely unpleasant consequences.

For example, many degenerative conditions come from disuse and/or misuse, caused by progressively worse pain and limitation in basic maneuverability and physical function.

Lack of movement also creates unhealthy mental states that makes it even more difficult to motivate yourself to move.

Two Common, Ineffective Ways To Try To Build Motivation

So the question is, how do you get out of the ‘rut’? 

Firstly, your mindset approach is half of the battle. If you approach your exercise/movement as a daily chore, as a battle, or as something to “get over with” each day, then sticking to it long-term will be out of the question.

Secondly, it’s often encouraged to set small goals for yourself to achieve as a means of motivation. However, this is not a sustainable approach, because one of three things will happen:

1. You’ll either run out of goals you actually care about,

2. You’ll convince yourself you don’t care about the goal anymore at some point to rationalize not doing your workout, or

3. If your the ‘determined’ type, you will make all kinds sacrifices to achieve your goal with the expectation that it will fulfill you.

When you become goal-oriented like that, at some point the goal inevitably takes the wheel looks for shortcuts because the focus of a goal is the destination. The shortcuts will lead you into trouble. 

Using “Losing # Of Pounds” As An Example

Here’s an example. Someone decides they’re going to lose 40 pounds and they’re determined to do so. A goal-oriented approach. So they start some diet “plan” and a rigorous exercise schedule with determination.

Well, at some point they will get injured, or over-fatigued/stressed, or sidetracked all in attempt to lose the weight more quickly.

Not surprisingly, they will likely not achieve the goal, and even if they do, they will regain some, all, or more of the weight. The best case scenario is they make the weight and sustain it for a while, but it’s an endless battle. It’s not a joyful process. So what is the point?

The Solution

The answer is simple. 

Do not make exercise a goal.

Showering is not a goal. Keeping yourself clean is simply a part of the daily process of managing yourself. You accept this fact so you do it, no matter what. Now you can still rush through, or you can really enjoy your shower. It’s up to you. Same is true for your movement.

Accept that moving your spine daily is a necessary part of the process to maintain your wellbeing, neurological/brain health, pain-free function, etc. Now you can rush through some spine movements and stretches like a chore, or you can take your time and enjoy it.

My advice is to stop exercising altogether and replace that with time to:

1. Purposefully nourish your joints and spine with the right kind of movements that will prevent them from eroding.

2. Make time to play and simply enjoy moving in your body.

If you pay attention, you’ll make more intelligent choices.

Most people think they need to exercise and deprive themselves of enjoying food to keep “fit.” That is a load of nonsense. If you consciously pay attention to enjoying your food, you will not eat bad food because bad food is not enjoyable.

The only way to ‘enjoy’ McDonald’s or a huge bag of Lay’s chips is to compulsively stuff it down your throat with no attention. If you actually pay attention, the intelligence within you will not allow you to enjoy anything that damages you.

If you pay attention, you will naturally make more intelligent choices. That’s why all habits are ineffective — it’s out of habit that you make bad choices. There’s no such thing as healthy eating habits. If you pay attention, you will naturally make healthy choices. Habits will kill you. 

Same goes for movement. Do something that is not habitual. Do something that demands your attention. Learn new things. You don’t have to pay attention to exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike, or do zumba, or take a studio yoga or bootcamp class.

You can just go on autopilot and either cruise through it or suffer through it. But if you do something that demands your full involvement, then you will go in a healthy direction.

If you learn a proper classics yoga process, it demands your full attention and involvement. If you learn a new skill or learn to coordinate your body in new ways, it demands your full involvement.

If you play an intense game of tennis, it also demands involvement. So much involvement that you’re not thinking about exercise at all. That is a process-oriented approach.

If you are steeped in the process, the results will be fruitful. If you’re just focussed on a goal, you will butcher the process and sabotage your results unwittingly. 

If you would like some inspiration, guidance, and support with a rich, diverse process of daily physical movement, you can check out:

• Personalized online programs

• our YouTube channel

Stay connected and go play!