You’ve likely heard the expression, If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life, which is about the importance of being passionate about your job. The same concept applies to exercise. If you find a type of exercise you love, it won’t be a workout you’ll loathe, but rather a workout you genuinely enjoy. It might not even feel like a workout at all.
A negative attitude puts the extra ‘work’ into a ‘workout’. A positive attitude is a game changer. When it comes to exercise, the more you enjoy it, the more you’ll do it, and we all know how important it is to exercise regularly.
If you’re realizing you need to build a more positive attitude toward exercise for the sake of your health, below are some tips to start truly enjoying exercise:
1. Write Down a List of Hobbies You Enjoy That Involve Physical Activity
Do you love nature? Hiking? Bird watching? Swimming? All of these hobbies involve physical activity, or at least can have physical activity incorporated. Bird watching, for example, can incorporate a hike. If you’re swimming at a lake, pool, or at the beach, you can jump off your pool float and do some laps. If you like to swim at the beach, perhaps you could even take up surfing.
It might also help to write down a list of sports you enjoy, which brings us to our next tip.
2. Find Your Sport
If you’re able to find a sport you genuinely enjoy, you’ll start to get excited about participating in this sport regularly, and you’ll build a positive attitude toward exercise.
Most people find that the sports they enjoy the most are the ones they have a natural talent for. When you’re naturally gifted at something, and you’re good at it, you feel good doing it. You feel confident and you end up having a great time.
Some people are naturally talented at surfing, swimming, playing soccer, playing basketball – the list goes on. Did you know that it might be in your DNA to be especially gifted at a certain sport? Find out by reading your genetic sports and fitness profile from CircleDNA.
3. Set Up a Reward
When it comes to building a more positive attitude toward exercise, setting up a reward for yourself certainly helps. Sometimes, a hike is the perfect way to set up a reward for yourself after exercising.
The viewpoint at the top of the hike certainly counts as a reward for all that exercise. Take some beautiful photos at the top of your hike, enjoy a packed lunch, and soak in that view. It’s easy to fall in love with hiking, especially if you live near hikes that have amazing views.
Another reward for exercising could be a post-workout treat, such as a yummy dessert smoothie from the smoothie bar in your gym.
4. Get Addicted to a Podcast
Certain podcasts are genuinely addictive, such as true crime podcasts like the Mile Higher podcast or Serial. Before you know it, you’ll be anxious to go on your daily walk, because it gives you a chance to listen to your favourite podcast.
While you’re out for a walk, find a bench to do some single-leg squats with an elevated back leg. These are one of the best types of butt workouts there are, and you could aim to do three sets of 12 on each leg.
5. Empower Yourself and Set Goals
Your mindset when it comes to exercise should be centered around a positive goal. If you want to be more physically fit, lose weight, gain confidence or simply feel healthier, be sure to always remind yourself that consistent exercise will pay off in the long run. It’s important to maintain a positive attitude and remind yourself that results take time. As long as you stay positive about working out, stay consistent, and continue to empower yourself to work on your fitness goals, you’ll see results.
When people start seeing results, they develop an even more positive attitude about exercise.
6. Create an Upbeat Workout Playlist for a Positive Attitude About Running
Upbeat and uplifting songs can make all the difference when it comes to enjoying exercise. This is especially true when it comes to going for a run. It’s not easy to have a positive attitude about running, because it’s one of the most challenging types of cardio, but the right type of music playlist helps tremendously. Not only can you run to the beat which helps you stay on pace, but you will also find that music helps push you to run a little faster, for a little longer. In other words, music helps you get that extra spring in your step when you’re a runner, and helps you associate the entire experience with ‘having fun’.
7. Be Grateful for Your Healthy Body
Can your body walk? Run? Swim? Cycle? Surf? Kayak? Don’t forget to acknowledge what your body is capable of doing. Be grateful that you have a healthy, mobile, working body. Not everyone does. Some people can’t even walk, so don’t take your well-functioning body for granted. Exercise to keep your body healthy, and practice a lifestyle where you don’t take your healthy body for granted.
You’ll notice that practising gratitude does wonders for those who are trying to develop a more positive attitude.
8. Remember the Little Details
Small details can help you develop a more positive attitude about working out. For example, simply buying a couple of cute workout outfits can help you feel more positive about going to the gym, and journaling for 5 minutes after a workout can help remind you of how exercise boosts your mood. By journaling about how good you feel after a workout, you’re helping yourself remember that you feel great after you exercise (because of all those endorphins and the sense of accomplishment) which will make you want to exercise more often.
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