If we’re all entirely honest, there are times when last thing we want to do is exercise, even when we know we should. It can be a great struggle at times.
And I suppose, nobody can possibly feel motivated to workout 100 percent of the time. Yet, as we all know by now, the key to long term success in any fitness routine is consistency.
So, how can we conquer those feelings of resistance to exercise?
How To Overcome Exercise Apathy
Here are 5 tricks of the trade for keeping your exercise routine going, even when you’d rather be doing something else.
1. Expect To Feel Apathetic (At Times)
As I mentioned, everyone falls prey to exercise apathy from time to time. It’s completely normal to feel this way once in a while.
But, many people see this stage as a personal failure, a sign that they just don’t have the will power to stick with their plan, or achieve their goals.
In fact, there’s no need to beat yourself up, you are simply going through a natural phase in your progress. If you stick with it, you will soon be back on track, and thankful that you didn’t give up, when you hit that rough spot.
2. Do Something At Least
Getting started is usually the first hurdle you will face. The thought of a one hour workout can be off-putting, so break it down into manageable chunks, and tackle them as they come.
Tell yourself you just need to get dressed, get your shoes on, and then out the door.
When you take these first little steps, you will be able to muster the energy to do something, at the very least.
More often than not, you will find that those 15 minutes you said you would start with, ended up being more like a full workout.
3. Vary Your Routine
Exercise apathy is sometimes the result of doing the same exercises over and over again. It’s amazing what a change of scenery, or a new workout routine will do for you.
Perhaps you always go running, so how about a gym workout, or a swim, to change things up a bit?
Another idea is to join a fitness class in your local area – this can really help with consistency, because you are forced to join up with the class on a weekly basis.
4. Team Up
MeiTeng
There’s no doubt, exercise can be really enjoyable as “me-time,” however it can also be refreshing to meet up with a friend, or a group from time to time, too.
You could even try out a new team sport, or get together with a friend or a group of friends for a game of tennis, cycling, hiking, or football.
Not only will you have lots of fun, but if you’re joining with a new group of people, you will probably make new friends as well.
5. Be Specific About Goals
Without a clear set of goals, it is difficult to get a sense of progress and accomplishment, and that can really dampen your enthusiasm.
The key to setting goals is to make them as specific as possible. For example, many people define their fitness goal as simply, “I want to get in shape.” The problem with that is, “getting in shape,” could mean a lot of different things.
A better goal would be, “I want to get in shape, so that I can jog 3 miles.” This gives you a way to measure your progress, and know when you have been successful in achieving it.
Goals should also be timely, because having a deadline helps focus your efforts, and it keeps you accountable.
To continue with our example, “I want to get in shape to jog 3 miles within 2 months,” would be an even better statement of the goal you want to achieve.
If you do fall prey to exercise apathy, and miss a workout or ten, don’t worry. Just get back into it… starting today.
The benefits of being fit and healthy really are worth it!
Do you struggle with this? What are your tips for beating exercise apathy?
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"Great motivational material to absorb!! Thanks!" — Cindy Etier
She's been featured in various publications, approached by TV production teams, and in the past 5 years has established herself as one of the foremost dietitians online.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Mel, I have had to back off for a period due to pressures which I learnt ‘dearly’ about last year.
But I am trying to walk smarter and a bit faster in my daily life of no car.
Last evening, i got home and after unwinding and looking at emails realised I had failed to pick up ‘libary book that I requested’ so rather than ‘forget again’ I went straight out and walked both ways relatively fast…(the book was not heavy!)
Today I might end up walking faster – because it’s going to be at some point a ‘wet-one’ and even with trusty raincoat I will not be slack getting to a dry place…
Hope to begin again real soon…only another week of this current challenge getting a BA at Univ…yep, I’m nearly done, whew
Woo Cathy, you’re nearly finished your BA. That’s great. What is next for you then?
what exactly I’m going to do is still WIP but some other things happened whilst in the clutches of University to do with Disability…something that doesn’t “look” applies to me but it does. Put me in a line up and I look little different but put in certain scenarios and things don’t look great at all..
I got interested in helping others via being the rep for disabled students on the Equity Arts committee but I’m not sure I will continue along in this arena BUT in the process found out about an organisation in NZ which helps people like me so I joined the online community.
At some point, I noticed that I could apply to make a film about My Disabilities – you had to put in a short proposal on the main thrust and so I DID…it was accepted and I’m in the process of making said film – still the early stages but this week is going to be momentuous as I need to provide digital stills, and short video sequences…
I jjust happen to have a friend who is versed in those arts so he and I are going to be doing certain things this week…
The film is probably going to be titled “Chasing Peas” and it will upto 10mins long…it has both text and graphics. The text will be spoken by me and I have written a first draft on what they will be.
I get to do everything editing, digitizing and so on with help of course and it is funded through community grants…it’s very empowering. Last night after a day with the ‘director of operations’ I was so empowered I couldn’t go to bed…got there at 2am!
Invisible disabilites can be a pain in the neck…because if things happen, particularly in my case people imagine I’m either drunk or I have a hangover…sometimes I want to ‘cry’ but usually I either glare or laugh it off.
Cathy,
Your comment is inspiring. I simply cannot wait to hear more about all of this. Do you think I’ll be able to see your video somehow over here in the UK? Maybe it’ll be on YouTube or something, that would be so great. What an amazing piece of work, and I know it will be so incredibly helpful to so many people. Just curious, why will it be called “Chasing Peas?”
Melanie.
The film has now been revamped a little and new title is: Shake Rattle and Roll (with thanks to Jesse Stone, 1954 who penned the lyrics).
Chasing Peas is still a small part of it and that refers to the problems I have with eating peas in public/cafes etc – I have a hereditary hand tremor. The other disability I’m conveying in a light hearted way is my ankle/feet problems.
Now today was my last day to help with imput and from now until I receive my own DVD of myFilm other professional editors will take over. The suggested arrival of that is late August. So I guess I will be able to load it somewhere for private viewers…
So in the film credits…I’m doing everything except one photo which had to be taken of me “pretending to read a book”. I researched, shot, make the text sound track, spoke the voice over” (someone else had the machine running for that though) although I did use some pictures either clipart or from the net (let’s hope no one sees what I slide sideways)
There were 7 of us, all portraying different things. One of those 7 was however making a movie of “us making our movies” and I have seen at least one of the sequences that show me!
Anyway it was fun…I learnt a lot about my own creative talents and so forth. I’m pretty good at writing text apparently and working with ‘props’
so I too am looking forward to the end result which is still some way off!
Exercise apathy is something I have had to work on for a long time. What gets me is when I have a pulled muscle or some other type of inquiry and I need to rest my body to recover. When I’m recovered than I don’t want to go back to exercising
That is a struggle, Clark. I suppose you need to remind yourself how good you feel when you are at your peak of fitness… I’m sure you do that anyway. Getting back into it is always difficult. If you are injured, are there any other types of gentle exercises you could be doing, to keep your mind focused on the habit of exercise?
Yes you are right…I could do lighter forms of exercise to keep myself going. I just need to stop making excuses! Nice post by the way
Mel, I just found your blog. Thanks for the useful information on gallbladder stones and thanks for the book on lifestyle changes.
Thank you for commenting
Cathy, that is awesome. Sounds like such a wonderful experience. It will be so exciting to see the finished movie
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