Do you wish you could just force yourself to exercise and get it over with? There are times when all you want to do is veg out and forget about your workout. If that should happen once in a blue moon, that won’t hurt anything. However, if it happens regularly, it can be harmful to your fitness. It can also negatively impact your weight management.
That being the case, how do you force yourself to exercise? What is the secret to getting up and moving around when the couch and TV are calling?
Believe it or not, many people find that they are more likely to be driven to do things after watching a rerun. If you can’t seem to find your get-up-and-go, turn on something you’ve already watched several times. Make sure it’s a show you really like. You’ll likely find that by the end of it, you’re ready to force yourself to exercise without complaint.
Just make sure you don’t get roped into watching episode after episode of the series. The rule is one half-hour episode and no more! This technique is supported by a University of Buffalo study about willpower and drive.
If you want motivation, go to the source. Listen to one of the hottest motivational podcasts. You’ll find yourself driven to get something done. At that moment, that means begin able to force yourself to exercise.
In fact, if your workout for the day happens to be strength training, you might find that you can get started with your exercises while you’re still listening! Let the motivation from the podcast push you to begin your workout. Once you’ve started, you’ll likely be able to finish without too much struggle. The hardest part is getting going!
Even if you don’t have a podcast to listen to, use your own motivational speech to get moving. You can force yourself to exercise just by talking to yourself with the right tone. Tell yourself you’ve got this. Get up, get ready and go! You can do it!
Research has shown that the moment you talk to yourself like you’re trying to inspire someone else, you’ll be more driven. You’ll be able to force yourself to exercise and give a great performance, too! Tell yourself you can do it and believe it.