Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going. And you won’t form habits unless you enjoy them!
When life gets hectic, exercise can be a tough habit to stick to. That’s why long workouts, intense gym sessions and endless bootcamps are not really our style.
Instead, we’re about mindful, gentle exercise, and making a commitment to do a little daily. (And if we’re feeling good, going a bit harder or a bit longer).
Need a little more motivation? These simple tactics make exercise more fun, so you can keep on moving every day.
Grab a buddy.
It’s probably little surprise our office manager Maddy is an ace multitasker. Her exercise approach is no exception.
“I’ll often have coffee with friends on the weekend but instead of sitting in a café, we’ll get takeaways and go for a walk around the park while we drink and catch up!”
Track your progress.
Whatever exercise you’re into, there’s probably an app for it. Tracking your progress via your phone (or in an actual paper journal) will make you more accountable and allow you to see how far you’ve come, reinforcing positive emotions around movement.
Speaking of apps, our marketing executive Alyssa swears by podcasts whenever she walks. “I’ll download a heap but only allow myself to listen to them while I’m walking.”
Mix it up.
Change is as good as a holiday for our food and recipes manager Meg. “Some days I go to the gym to do circuit training, some days I bike ride, other days I swim and some days I just do some stretching in my room. I do something different every day, keeping it fun!”
Think outside the box.
For years, writer Rachel made exercise miserable for herself, thinking she had to smash high-intensity training all the time to be “fit”.
“I had to get out of the box of what I thought I should be doing and find a gentler approach that worked for my body. It may not seem exciting to some, but I find exercise so much more enjoyable now that I am doing it for myself. And listening to what my body wants.”
Map it out.
Plan a walk or jog to somewhere you love to visit – the beach, the park, your favourite café, the zoo, wherever! “I find that if I know I have something rewarding at the end it is a lot easier to motivate myself to get there,” says our programs coordinator Matt.
Let your body guide you.
If you’re forcing yourself to do something you don’t feel like doing in the moment, it’ll be no fun at all, says our head of content Lorna.
“Don’t want to get up for that boot camp class? Don’t! Go to yoga after work instead. Don’t fancy that 10km run after all? Go for a 5km walk with a mate. If you’re guided by what your mind and body want to do at the time, you’ll enjoy it much more.”
Set your intention.
Think about the reasons why you want to make exercise a priority.
“I exercise to feel good and clear in the morning. Not to lose weight,” Sarah says. “When you prioritise weight loss, the effects are delayed and so you lose love for yourself.”
How do you make exercise more fun?
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