Tips to overcome a lack of motivation
Exercise has its fair share of devotees and millions of people who recognize its value but still struggle to include workouts in their daily routines. Motivation can be a significant hurdle when it comes to exercise, and recent studies are a testament to that difficulty.
Lack of motivation can affect people of all ages. However, older adults may be uniquely positioned to overcome their lack of motivation to exercise, particularly if they’re retired and have time on their hands. Those who aspire to exercise more frequently can consider these strategies if motivation becomes an issue.
• Exercise away from home. During the pandemic, a phenomenon characterized “basement burnout” was developed, referring to the lack of enthusiasm to exercise at home when gyms and other fitness facilities were forced to close as a public safety measure. Home workouts can become monotonous since most people do not have enough room at home to house the same array of equipment that’s available at their local gym. People can overcome monotonous workouts by purchasing a membership at a local gym, which may also offer discounted rates to people 55 and over.
• Employ the buddy system. People can ask friends and family to join them when they exercise, come along to the gym for a favored fitness class or invite them on hiking adventures or daily walks. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) notes that turning exercise into a social activity is a great way for people to maintain their motivation to exercise.
• Track your progress and celebrate your successes. The NIA touts the benefits of tracking progress when trying to stay motivated to exercise. As exercise efforts pay increasing dividends, people may find it’s no longer hard to stay motivated. Success can be measured in many ways. Some might aspire to see healthier blood test results at the doctor’s office, while others hope to lose a few pounds. Celebrating the achievement of fitness goals with a spa day, a night out or a weekend getaway can provide all the motivation to stay the course.
• Be flexible with a routine. Mobility issues and other physical limitations may affect people’s ability to stay on track with exercise, but should not prevent them from exercising. Mixing up an exercise routine while facing physical limitations can make traditional workouts more challenging. Going for nature walks on days when a body needs a break from strength training, and checking the forecast at the start of each week may allow adjusting the routine to fit one’s lifestyle.
—MetroCreativeConnection
