Some fun tricks that make exercising more likely

Everyone knows the many benefits of exercise, including better heart health, a healthier body, a better looking physique, healthier skin, more endurance, more stamina, etc. However, despite all of the many reasons that we should exercise, many find it difficult to get themselves to actually do so. The fact is that there are ways to make exercising a more likely activity in your regular schedule, and there are things that will make it less likely. Let's look at some fun tricks that you can apply to make exercise a more natural, and likely process for you:
First, take time to list what makes it fun, not why to do it. A lot of people will create their New Year's resolutions, or give themselves a thousand reasons they should be exercising. For example, their list will look something like this: Exercise to lose weight, Exercise to lower cholesterol, Exercise to improve heart health. The problem with this is, that while these things are all true, you already know them, and probably remember them, but they do not act as motivating enough reasons to actually hit the gym when your alarm rings at 4:45. Instead of listing reasons why you should exercise, take time to list times when exercise was fun, or how you can enjoy exercise more. Drawing on positive experiences is far more motivating then beating yourself up about reasons you should be exercising. Positive reinforcement techniques work, they worked when you were a toddler, and they will work now. Your list could read something like this: Swimming with friends, hiking to a waterfall, taking a new fitness class, yoga as a group, jazzercise. If you have found that there are times when you have enjoyed exercise, you can draw on those times to help you get more motivated to get out there and exercise more. In addition to that, it offers you some good suggestions for making exercise fun so that you will want to do it.


Let's look at a prime example. Getting up and going running because you want to shed a few pounds does not bring anything positive to mind. Running.ouch, weight loss.ugh. However, if you think back to a time you went on a run with some friends, and spent the time laughing, and joking, suddenly the prospect of running turns from "ouch and ugh" to "aww, and yeah!" Try it.
The next little trick you can employ to make exercise more likely for yourself is to set it up so you go with someone, preferably a friend. The fact of the matter is, if you are hitting the gym yourself, then when the alarm rings at the crack of dawn, and you are tired from staying up late the night before, you will hit the snooze button nine times out of ten. However, if you know your friend is going to be there to meet you and get through the exercising with you, you are going to get up nine times out of ten so as not to disappoint. When other people are counting on you, you follow through more. In addition to that, it is more appealing to exercise with someone then to do it alone. By nature, humans are social creatures, and we want other humans around. So, apply this to exercise, and you will go more often. You can go with a spouse, a neighbor, etc. If you have kids, include them, push them in a stroller, do an at home exercise program that they can participate in. Make it more fun, and involve others, and you will do it more.