Find Your Motivation to Exercise: 10 Tips

Struggling to get out the door for your afternoon walk? Or finding that extra hour of sleep more appealing than hitting the pavement for your morning stroll?

Despite being well aware of the benefits of exercise - and knowing how great you will feel after exercising - you may find yourself struggling with motivation. Read on for some tips:

1. Adopt an Exercise Buddy

Exercise buddies keep you accountable - there's nothing like the commitment of knowing that someone is waiting for you. Walking groups or cycling bunch rides are a great way to meet people, and as your fitness improves, other people who have greater fitness will spur you on!

2. Walk to a Beat

Listening to music can motivate you during exercise, resulting in longer, more enjoyable sessions. If music isn't your thing, try listening to books on CD or podcasts.

3. Try Something New

Try cycling, aqua aerobics, water running, walking, swimming or even dancing. There is a form of exercise that you will love out there - you just may not have found it yet!

4. Just Do It

Sometimes overanalysing can be detrimental - you just need to get out there and exercise!

5. Enter Fun Runs and Walks

You don't have to be a serious runner or athlete to enter races, most have 'walker' divisions. Aim to do a fun run or walk to sustain interest and give yourself a goal to work towards.

6. Schedule It

Book an appointment with yourself and prioritise exercise just like you would any other appointment.

7. Exercise Early

If you want to get something done, do it before other tasks and responsibilities accumulate. If you exercise early you will benefit from an elevated metabolic rate for the remainder of the day, which means you are likely to burn more calories. If you can't fit exercise in early, try to do it before you get home. Once you get home, it can be difficult to go back outside!

8. Be Prepared

Keep a bag of exercise clothes at your work or in your car - you never know when you may be able to fit in an exercise session. If you are going to exercise in the morning, organise the gear you need the night before.

9. Keep Track

Keep an exercise diary, or use a heart rate monitor to measure your exercise intensity, duration and calories burned. When you meet your exercise goals, treat yourself to a non food-related reward. When you are pressed for time, a pedometer is a great way of measuring your incidental exercise.

10. Be Flexible

Don't worry too much about missed exercise days, but try to identify the barriers that prevent you from exercising and address them.