HEALTH AND FITNESS:Dear Sir,
As the year is rounding up I want to make a resolution to join a gym. How can I motivate myself to keep working out?
Lhaden, Thimphu
Dear Lhaden,
Every year millions of people postpone all types of positive commitments up until New Year.
To truly keep the promises you make to yourself and to others, you must be ready to endure the effort and sacrifice it takes to fulfill them.
1. Visualize a goal:
You need to make short-term goals for yourself, or else you will be haphazardly moving through motions without a clear motif. It’s like trying to find your way in the dark. Your “goal” is the light that will direct you and keep you going.
For instance, your goal could be to lose 5 kilograms of fat in two months, or it could be to complete a 5km run in 30 minutes. It doesn’t matter what the goal is, but it should be something you sincerely need or desire. Visualizing yourself achieving and relishing that goal is what will keep you highly motivated.
| Tip of the week: ”Every single moment at hand is an opportunity for positive progression.” |
2. Positive ambiance:
You need to choose a place that exudes energy and positivity. You need to be exposed to positive people and energy to enjoy the process of exercising.
So, for example, you want to join a health club that is run and frequented by passionate, positive and healthy people. No matter how strong you are, it’s just a matter of time before you absorb what you expose yourself to. So choose a space to train carefully.
3. Have fun:
Find an exercise routine that you find joy in. There are so many ways to achieve the same goal, so why force feed yourself what you can’t stomach. Never be afraid to try something new. Your exercise should evolve with you. The better you understand your body, the more joy you will find in exercising.
4. Training partner:
It is not absolutely necessary, but if you can find a good training partner with similar goals, it is always good.
You can feed on each other’s energy to lift each other on bad days. You can learn faster and better from each other. Overtime, a healthy competition will develop and this will bring about a lot of joy, excitement, thrill and, above all, good results.
4. Embrace the pain:
Resuming exercise after a long haul or beginning can be extremely stressful. So preparing yourself mentally is paramount. You cannot get to the promise land without effort.
