The secret to having the
motivation you need to work out, to eat well, and to follow a plant-based
lifestyle is simply to go out and get it. Motivation doesn’t just come to you
if you wait long enough. It doesn’t rain down from the sky in silvery streams
to refill our hearts and souls. It doesn’t magically appear when you need it
most like some blue-tinged fairy godmother come to grant wishes.
There are ways to keep the
momentum moving in the right direction, and I’ll walk you through a few that
work for me, but you should know you also have personal motivations that will
only apply to you. Perhaps your girlfriend’s smile when she catches you working
out, your husband’s pleasantly surprised look when you order something healthy,
or the right mix of music can push you to do better. Find out what unique
things motivate you and lean on them.
Set a Goal
You need a plan of attack.
Don’t think for one second that the vague phrases “eating better” or “being
healthier” are proper goals. They are merely good ideals. Goals need to be
specific and accomplish-able. Walk briskly for twenty minutes three times a
week, lose five pounds by jumping rope for half an hour each evening after
work, eat completely plant-based meals two days this week, or don’t buy a soft
drink today. These are specific goals and things you can accomplish. Use them
as examples and build your own plan.
Write it Down
A goal unwritten is merely a
wish. Write it down, cementing what you want to accomplish in visible words.
Post that goal somewhere you will be sure to see it every day. I’ve even
stapled goals to my ceiling above my bed. If it is somewhere prominent, it will
serve as a reminder and give you the fuel and motivation to keep going.
Start Small
You don’t have to climb
Everest or run a marathon right away. If you set huge goals, it becomes easier
to lose hope and give up too soon. Begin with something small that you can
achieve. Once you do, move on to something bigger. Then bigger. Then even
bigger! That’s the way motivation works, built upon a ladder of successes until
it’s hard to believe you had trouble finding that motivation once.
Celebrate
Celebrate each success, no
matter how tiny it may seem. Each fulfilled goal is a huge step in the right
direction. Do not allow yourself to think that even the smallest success
doesn’t have value. It does, and so do you! If your goal was to walk twenty
feet to the mailbox each day and you do it, celebrate that and then start on
your next goal. Each one is important. Each one is worthy of a moment of
rejoicing.
Get Excited
This sounds like something
easier said than done, but really it just requires you thinking about your goal
often with the right frame of mind. Read your goal each day and smile, even if
you are filled with dread at the thought of continuing or sore from your last
work out. As long as you smile and try to be happy about your goals, the
excitement will come, and with excitement comes motivation. I’ve also found
that music can help me get into an excited frame of mind as I think about my
goals.
Search Out Inspiration
Find motivation in the
success of others. Read blogs and articles and watch videos from people who
have reached their goals. Feed off their motivation, their excitement, and
their encouragement. There are many people who have gone through exactly what
you are attempting to do and most are willing to help others follow their lead.
Use your Imagination
Humans have a great gift of
creation that allows us to dream up new and impossible things. Harness the
power of your imagination to picture yourself succeeding, how you will look and
feel. Then use those feelings of success to motivate you. Our brains do not
distinguish something imagined or read from reality. Convince yourself of your
success and you will be more likely to achieve it.
Involve Others
Your goals should be public.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to post an article in the paper or call
a press conference, but you should tell your friends and family what you intend
to accomplish and ask them to help you. You will need support.
Continue to build that
support group. Find a workout buddy. You can encourage and motivate one
another, and it is much easier with a friend than on your own. Take classes:
the other participants and the instructor will motivate you. A coach or trainer
can also make a huge difference in motivation and what you are able to
accomplish.
Focus on Benefits
It’s easy to lose hope and
motivation when we focus on the difficult aspects of losing weight, getting
fit, or eating healthier. Working out is hard, losing weight is painful, eating
healthy means altering habits and addictions. Don’t focus on the work, focus on
the results. Before heading to the gym, think about the benefits and your accomplishments
instead.
Have Fun
Remember that working out
can be fun. Don’t just put your head down and plow through the work outs.
Discipline is a good thing, but you need to let yourself play now and again
too. Find exercises you enjoy. Run, skip, jump in a pile of leaves, wrestle
with your dog, play basketball, soccer, racquetball, whatever, but have some
fun.
Forgive Yourself
Motivation comes in waves.
Don’t beat yourself up if you lose it briefly. Forgive yourself for not going
to the gym, not reaching your goal, or not eating as well as you had hoped and
then move on. Keep following the advice above and focusing on the
positive, and motivation will come back to you again.
This post was
originally published here: 11 Ways to Motivate Yourself
to Exercise and Eat Healthy
Related article: Get rid of excess weight!
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