As the weather warms up and the days get longer our motivation to get active increases. Here are my top 5 tips for staying motivated towards your Summer fitness goals.
1. Go to a class or join a group
A regular commitment to a group or class each week helps keep you on track. The moral in a group setting provides extra motivation and makes activities more enjoyable. There are so many groups out there these days that there is something for everyone. There are gyms, group training, dance, bird watching, walking, hiking, running, swimming, gardening clubs, tai chi and not to mention Pilates of course!
2. Write your goal down, be SMART and stick it somewhere you’ll see it!
If you have a goal in mind, then write it down. The more specific you can make it the more likely you will achieve it. For example, a vague goal would be: ‘I want to walk more’. This goal is hard to define, hard to measure and therefore easy to forget. Comparatively, stating the goal like this: “My goal is to be walking 3 x week for 30 minutes each time by the end of December”, is much more clear and measurable. The is known as a SMART goal – Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time. Smaller SMART goals can be used as stepping stones on our way to bigger goals – achieving the smaller goals keeps our motivation high. Once you have written your SMART goal, stick it somewhere you will see it every day.
3. Find a buddy
A friend or family member with similar interests can help us be accountable and make working towards goals more enjoyable. Your buddy may have similar goals or you could support each other in different goals.
4. Enter an event or book a holiday
There a plenty of options for all levels and interests. I find this one of the best ways to stay motivated! What better way to make sure you go out for a walk or run when you don’t feel like it than having the looming date of a Fun-Run or Walk or an active holiday?
5. Follow a plan
Ask your Physiotherapist to develop a plan for you to help you reach your goals. There are a plethora of plans online for training for walking or running events – if you are not sure what to look for, ask your Physiotherapist as they can develop a program specifically for you.