Motivate to Move

Nothing ever comes to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.
- Booker T. Washington

Why is it so difficult to find the motivation to exercise? That's sort of like asking why it’s so difficult to get motivated to do your taxes. If you don’t really love doing something, it's pretty difficult to muster the energy to actually do it. It's very easy to come up with at least a million things that are more important.

So what do you do? Your first step is to plan for it. Be as specific as possible.

1. When? Set a time for your daily workout, even if you can only plan for 10 or 20 minutes, just as you would for any other important appointment.
2. What will you do? Walk? Outside or on a treadmill? Go to the gym? Attend a fitness class? Do an exercise video? 
3. What will you wear? Lay out your clothes, especially if you workout in the morning. That way you won’t be bumbling around in the dark looking for your shoes. If you plan to exercise after work, throw your clothes in the car and change at the office if you can.

Don’t allow excuses to take over. The more specific you are, the more likely you’ll be to stick to your exercise plan. The more often you stick with it, the more it will become a habit. And one of these days, you just might start to enjoy it.