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If you were more intimidated, than inspired, by people using the park to demonstrate their peak physical fitness when we were only allowed out once a day to exercise, don’t worry. Maybe you can’t balance on yoga ropes between trees, do fifty burpees in a row or run like the wind, but that’s no reason to use the relaxation of the lockdown just to sunbathe, tempting as that is.
The longer warmer days, less commuting and more flexible working than we’ve ever had before, means there’s never been a better time to get fit. The challenge is thinking about what getting fit would really mean to you and keeping yourself motivated.
But don’t worry, we’ve done the hard work for you! Here are five ways you can really boost your motivation to help lead a more active life and improve your fitness:
1. Identify a compelling reason
With summer holidays on hold there’s little reason to get a ‘poolside body’. This is a good thing. Superficial fitness goals, to lose weight or look a certain way, rarely motive us for more than a few weeks. Instead, think of an emotionally compelling reason to get fit, such as wanting to reduce your risk of developing a disease, stay active in later life or have more energy to do the things you love.
2. Walk before you run
Once most people have resolved to get fit their next step is to throw themselves into running or some other high intensity activity. Instead, it’s far better to incrementally build up to this, little by little every day. Make regularly exercising, in a way that you find challenging but not overwhelming, part of your daily routine. Stretch yourself each day, and you’ll be amazed at the progress you make.
3. Keep it fun
One of the best ways to stay motivated to get fit is to find ways of being active that are emotionally satisfying and fun for you to do. Whether you love cycling, dancing or exercising outdoors find things to do that you genuinely enjoy. You can access celebrity and fitness instructor workouts online, for little or no cost at the moment, at whatever time it suits you, so see what inspires you.
4. Make it a habit
Challenging as the lockdown has been, it’s also given back lots of people more spare time, so why not use the time you used to spend getting ready for work or commuting to do something for yourself. To prevent your brain from coming up with excuses to not to be active today, do your activity or workout at the same time every day, so that it becomes a healthy habit that you automatically want to do.
5. Stay connected
Even though many restrictions still remain in place as to how safely we can exercise alongside people from other households, we can still keep our exercising social by joining a virtual group, using a fitness app or doing a zoom class at the same time as friends. This is important because sharing your fitness goals and exercising at the same time as others will help to keep you motivated.
Africa
