What Motivates You to be Active?

Motivation gets us started on the path to health & wellness but can be quickly lost. It is important to re-visit these motivating factors from time-to-time so that we don’t give-up. Our health depends on it. These motivational factors may help you to keep going strong.

Music is one of my biggest motivating factors. When I put music on, I am instantly motivated to do something. The beat of the music moves me, keeps me going & makes the activity more fun.

Other people motivate me to get active. Good company & conversation makes me forget about the time & effort involved. We have fun!  When I lack motivation, a friend can give the gentle push/motivation that is needed. Sometimes a competitive nature helps in this regard. If someone else can do it, so can I.

When I became a fitness instructor, many years ago, I had an 80 year old woman that came to every class. I’ll never forget her. The desire to be like her has always motivated me. I want to live a long comfortable life. Physical activity prevents many diseases, aches & pains & increases longevity. Strong muscles & bones helps seniors to live independently. 

My dog motivates me to stay active. He always wants to go for walks, regardless of the weather. Most times, after walking my dog, I admit that it did me more good than him. I always feel better for it. I love getting outdoors, feeling the sun on my face & breathing fresh air. Getting active outdoors isn’t just good for my body; it helps to clear my mind & is good for my soul.

The feeling that I get from exercising motivate me. I feel energized & re-vitalized. The endorphines improve my mood & attitude. It is a hard concept to grasp when tired & motivation is lacking. Once I convince myself to get going, all is good. 

Variety motivates me. Doing the same thing over & over gets boring fast. I exercise with free weights & tubing at home. I only do 2 sets of each exercise, instead of 3 sets. I am always changing things up & working my muscles in a different ways (which keeps muscles challenged & helps to get results). 

I am motivated to stay active so that I don’t grow out of my clothes. When we get older, our metabolism slows down & it is easier to gain weight. We all come in different shapes & sizes & need to be comfortable & confident in our own skin. I don’t have to have the perfect body, I just want to stay healthy. 

In life we have highs & lows. It is normal to go through periods of low motivation. Life gets busy. Sometimes a rest is just as good as a workout. I just make sure that I don’t give-up all together. I get back to being active when I can. It has become part of my lifestyle.

So, what motivates you to be active? Make a list so that you can re-motivate yourself when needed. Turn off your TV & computor for a change. You only need to be active for ½ an hour (most days of the week). Moving & doing something is better than sitting & doing nothing.

Start slowly & find an activity that you enjoy. You don’t need an expensive gym membership. Put the music on & dance. Go for a walk. Try yoga in your living room (following an exercise video). Mix things up so you don’t get bored. Stay motivated & stay well! You can do it!