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How can people motivate themselves to start a regular exercise routine and stick with it?

Rachelle Shelbourne

Well, well, well...this is a question that certainly hits home for me. As a self-proclaimed couch potato, I have always struggled with motivating myself to start and stick with a regular exercise routine. However, with a little bit of trial and error, I have come up with some strategies that have worked for me (and hopefully will work for you too!)

First and foremost, find an exercise routine that you actually enjoy. There's nothing worse than forcing yourself to do something that you absolutely despise. For me, that's running. I hate it. So instead, I've found pleasure in dancing to my favorite songs in the privacy of my own living room. It's a win-win - I get to sweat it out and have fun at the same time!

Another tip is to set realistic goals for yourself. Don't expect to be able to run a marathon after one week of training. Start small and work your way up. Maybe your goal is to walk for 30 minutes every day for a week. Once you've achieved that, then you can add more time or increase the intensity.

Accountability is also key. Find a workout buddy or join a fitness group so that you can hold each other accountable. It's much harder to skip a workout when someone is counting on you to show up.

But what if you're just not feeling motivated one day? That's okay! Give yourself permission to skip a day, but also make sure that you're not giving up entirely. Remember why you started in the first place and keep that in mind when you're feeling unmotivated.

Lastly, don't forget to reward yourself! Set up little milestones for yourself and treat yourself when you achieve them. Maybe it's buying a new workout outfit or indulging in a special treat. Whatever it is, make sure it's something that you really look forward to.

Starting and sticking with a regular exercise routine can be tough, but it's definitely worth it! Not only will you start feeling better physically, but also mentally. So get moving, have fun, and don't forget to reward yourself along the way!