4 Motivational Tips for Health and Fitness Goals
Your health and fitness practice is something that you should always take some time to review. Review and reflect so you can make sure you are working toward your aims and aspirations. Sometimes we get looped into the same activities and routines out of pure habit-and then we wonder why we aren’t getting closer to achieving a particular goal. Effectively we disconnect from our desire or goal (fitness or otherwise) if it isn’t founded on an intrinsic connection somewhere along the line. Uncover what your ‘why’ is and that will serve to keep you committed and focused on your aims. For instance, you want to be able to run 5k with a level of ease… dig deeper and ask yourself why this is important to you. The distance is just a measure. How will it make you feel to achieve that goal, what does it actually mean to you, and what purpose does it serve for you?
Your ‘why’ is your foundation and what you build everything else upon.
Life is all about discovery and digging a little deeper. When we put mindfulness, meaning and purpose behind what we do then we know its true value to us, and we will work for it.
1. Establish what your goals are
Keep in mind that health and fitness in the broadest sense encompasses your mental, physical, and emotional well being because everything connects. Having a clear set of defined goals provides a mental snapshot of where you want to be, and this is what will drive you forward and keep you going. Look at your aims more holistically, how is what you are doing fulfilling you mentally and emotionally also? Think openly, objectively, and realistically when you set your goals and put some real feeling and meaning behind them. Think about how it will serve you internally as well as externally (in terms of any physique/body shape aspirations). Don’t cherry pick anyone else’s goal…you are your own person; make your aims your own!
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals” – Zig Ziglar
2. Try new things, change, and adapt
Your mind and body feed off new things and varied movement patterns. Small but significant changes offer a little shock to your muscles, metabolism and mental focus. The aim is to avoid the limbo stages of plateau and to keep boredom at bay. Too much routine is a passion killer and your motivation to workout will very quickly drop. We are creatures of comfort and habit, yet in order to progress we need to make decisive moves out of comfort zones and what feels easy. Commitment is the tough road that moves you out of comfort and into your unique magic.
“Exercise to stimulate, not to annihilate. The world wasn’t formed in a day, and neither were we. Set small goals and build upon them” – Lee Haney
3. Find inspiration and what moves you
There are so many positive examples of inspiration, maybe from your favourite athlete, your favourite soundtrack that uplifts you, or even a friend that you can buddy workout with. Seek out what you feel you need to keep you motivated and understand what triggers and ‘sparks’ you to keep inherently energised and centred. Intrinsically you are your own inspiration and motivation; if you keep a marker of the points where you have improved on your fitness journey then that will serve to keep you consciously focused. We are moved by our emotions and things that spike our curiosity and interest- think about what moves you.
“The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit” – Morihei Ueshiba
4. Create a mental and emotional connection to what you do
As humans, we thrive on reciprocity and connection. When you merge with something on more than just a physical level you naturally build up a sense of love, synergy, and interconnectivity around it. The next time you jump on a cross trainer or get on a stationary bike to hit the same levels of exertion- consider if you are actually connected to what you are doing. Are you enjoying it and does it inspire you to do more? Find your connection to what keeps you happy and well. It’s like having a soul mate vibe to your fitness practice- you need to find what fits, connects to you on many levels and challenges you too!
“Our life is composed greatly from dreams, from the unconscious, and they must be brought into connection with action. They must be woven together” – Anais Nin
Categorised as: Inspiration, Motivation