Exercising - How do you sustain momentum!

The number one reason people say they do not exercise is lack of time. Not long ago, a twenty-year study was completed centering on the theory that, “There is not as much time in the day as there used to be.”  The study concluded that just the opposite was true. It showed that with all the technology today, we have 1.5 more hours in a day than we did twenty years ago. In other words, with all the gadgets out there to help us communicate and manage our time, we should have an hour and a half more time for ourselves. What is the solution? With a little prioritizing and some time management, we can find the time to exercise!

Time frames 

As you get closer to reaching your goal, start thinking in back of your mind of the next goal. You need to establish your next focus point to keep you on track. However, make sure you are convinced that you will reach the present goal in the established time period. 

Setting time frames for your daily workouts is a great motivator. It keeps you focused, you feel more productive, and in the end workouts do not feel like a big effort.  

One of the smartest things I have ever decided to do in my career was to put a time frame on how long my workouts would be. Your workouts can feel like a job if they take a lot of time.  

Knowing that I had to be finished within a certain time period encouraged me to focus on what I needed to do. This also created more intensity or effort in my workouts and I achieved better results. Time frames also helped in not letting workouts get boring.  I looked forward to the next workout knowing how little time it was going to take. 

Consistency + Variety+ Efficiency= results, all the time! 

We all have different methods of motivating ourselves. Most of us set goals to us give a sense of urgency. When setting goals, two mistakes should be avoided.  

Realistic goals vs. lifestyles 

In some circumstances, the demands of life do not permit accomplishments of lofty goals. In most cases, time management solves this problem. However, you need to be realistic. Expectations can be set so high and when responsibilities do not allow you to get there, frustration can be paralyzing. This does not give you a reason to forget setting high goals; you just don’t want to set yourself up for failure.  

Yearly goals 

One or two main goals a year are as much as one brain and body can handle. If you try to accomplish too many goals at once you can become scattered in your focus. You always want to focus on the big picture.  

Seasonal goals  

Setting three-month incremental goals that line up with the yearly goals sustains motivation throughout the year. People get discouraged and sometimes injuries happen if they continue on the same workout plan over a three-month period.  

Keep the ball rolling 

Of course, many times people will lose momentum after reaching a certain goal. There may be a let down in emotions, physical fatigue, or you just want to change things up. The object is to keep the ball rolling.  

Suggestions:  

Determine your emotional and internal goals first. 

Keep your priorities in line all the time. When time is a problem, exercise the more important body parts.  

Take a one day at a time attitude. 

Never be afraid of changing your workout program up. Ten to twelve week programs work best. 

Always put a carrot in front of your face to help meet your goals.  

In a nut shell: 

There is no magic potion, just hard, consistent work. Try to make your programs fun and effective in the shortest possible time you can. Give yourself a little flexibility in your goals and reward yourself for your accomplishments. Keep the big picture in mind. Set yearly goals with incremental ones in-between. As you get closer in reaching a goal, establish the next one without losing momentum.