How Do You Encourage Yourself to Exercise?

It has taken a while, trust me, but I’m at the point where exercise is a must for my personal sanity. My therapy of choice is spinning. My brother and I are the same and when making plans to hang out, we’re always conscious not to ask the other to miss out because we know we’ll both be more fun to be around if we have exorcised (pun intended)!

I read somewhere that it takes 6 months to form an exercise habit, and having that number in my head made it SO much easier to keep pushing through every week. I also get out of class right as traffic is starting, so I tell myself I can either study or workout until it passes, and working out sounds better than studying 9 times out of 10!

The other thing I swear by is listening to k-pop while I work out. Haha! There are just so many songs with fun, quick beats. Spotify, itunes, youtube, etc. all have kpop playlists that are so fun to run to!

I go out walking. I live in an suburban area and enjoy nothing more than strolling around residential streets, peaking into windows, looking at gardens and watching the people.
I live alone (I’d call myself an extroverted introvert) but have a very people-facing job. So come Friday night I’m all peopled-out. But come Sunday afternoon, I want people again. So a stroll around the neighbourhood is a great way to appease my extrovert, but being low-pressure.

I love this post! I also run “highly anxious” so exercise is super important for me to stay balanced. One thing that really has helped me has been focusing on exercises that I really enjoy doing (right now I’m into Y7 Yoga, Flywheel, Soul Cycle, and CorePower Yoga). I tried swimming for awhile and I just didn’t enjoy it, so I gave it up. When I’m feeling really exhausted from a long day but I know I need to get moving, I just go on a long walk. For me, it’s all about “enjoying the process”…and remember how good I will feel afterwards doesn’t hurt!

I try to embrace the mindset of adaptability to keep myself working out regularly. I love running, but for whatever reason I have a hard time running in the morning. If I know I only have 30 minutes before work I will kick my heavy bag or lift weights while watching the news instead of forcing myself to run. I once read “the process needs to be its own reward” and I think this holds true for wellness!

“Not enough time” is always my excuse to myself.
So I always use the tactic, especially if I am just exhausted from work/not enough sleep/life, of “just 10 minutes”. If you focus on making your ten minutes count — with stretching, or finding a workout video online, running around the block or even doing ten minutes of jumping jacks– you usually want to keep going. And if not you got in ten minutes of something that was just for yourself, and thats okay too.

I’m already a morning person, but if I get a run in before work, I find that I’m more clear-headed and alert once I get to work. I’m also in a better mood. It only applies if you work out outside in the a.m., but I love seeing my city in the predawn hours before it gets busy and crowded. It’s like I’m in a secret.

Another fun thing to do (as a runner or cyclist at least), is pick a destination that has something fun (pastries! coffee! beer! an ocean to jump into!) and run to it. Then have a treat and take the train home. It takes a bit more time, but running in circles can get pretty monotonous.

#1 Motivator: Moving for my Mood!
That’s my slogan and reminds me to move daily as a mood stabilizer. If I were to use weight loss or skinny jeans as a motivator, I would give up, because I also practice body positivity! It simplifies the question of whether or not to go. It’s not, “Do I look like I need it?” and more like “This is good for my mental health, period.”

#2: Workout Social Hour
I so look forward to going for my weekly runs with my two pals – I see it more like a social/catch-up hour than a workout sesh.

#3: Me-time Entertainment
I save up fun podcasts – like Two Dope Queens – for workouts.

I was never much of a runner but set the goal to run a half marathon. I started listening to Hamilton the Musical around the same time so would only let myself listen to it while I was running. That was my motivation and it completely worked! Even when I didn’t feel like going for a run I’d think ‘huh, but wouldn’t mind listening to Hamilton’ and away I’d go, by the time I’d reached the end of the street I was happy to be running. And….I finished the half marathon! Listening the Hamilton from start to finish, of course! :)

Biggest motivator is staying in shape to keep up with my kids. I’m serious. They move a lot and fast and I want to play with them. I don’t want to be the dead beat Mom sitting on the sofa saying I’m too tired when the kids ask me to play. There’s nothing like seeing my 5 year old’s thrilled face when he watches me skip down the street with him. Pure joy.

I’ve played a lot of ultimate frisbee for a few years now but I hated running. I’m still not sure about my feelings about running yet but I’m beginning to like it more than I did before. I like getting into my workout gear because that allows me to feel good about me being badass/proud to have my sweat wicked by manmade fibers! Music choice is also important – for me I like upbeat music to keep me going. Spotify’s Throwback Workout playlist is great and my frisbee team made a pump up playlist before a big tournament that is also awesome. As for the actual running, my friend recently introduced me to an app called Running for Weight Loss. I really like it because it takes you through short intervals of running, walking, and eventually sprints. It’s nice because the short intervals keep me engaged and continuously moving! My best/most fun run so far was when I ran to Trader Joe’s and went on a shop at the end of my run as a reward. I went early on a weekend and there was only a short line because other Brooklyites were still sleeping or brunching! I’m not consistently running yet but I’m hoping to continue to find ways to keep it fun

I’m pretty sure I can and DO feel sorry for myself when running.

I REALLY struggle with this. I envy those people who get a “buzz” from exercise and naturally feel like doing it!!! Are we sure those people aren’t actually robots?!

Anyway, the best way for me to get my butt into action is to have a gym buddy who won’t quit on me. At the moment I am working out with my husband. It really makes all the difference in the world to have someone else on your team!

My big thing is, I have to build exercise into my routines – to make it not optional. The best way for me to do that is to exercise RIGHT when i wake up. It’s almost like I don’t have enough mental energy to argue with myself about why not to do it! :) And of course starting your day with exercise is a terrific thing to do. I actually drink my coffee WHILE I do my stretches (I do a pretty low-impact workout that blends yoga and ballet with a bit of kickboxing) and by the end, I feel SO energized and awake. If I skip it, I’m still groggy an hour after I wake up!

I recently realized how much exercise has been important to me since I was a kid – I played basketball from 13 until the mean girls drove me away. My best friend in first year uni and I went to the gym three times a week. Then I played basketball again. Then I found a fun aerobics class. Then I made work friends who wanted a gym buddy. Then I started running to try to curb my anxiety. I picked up yoga. Now I’m getting into Pilates to rebuild my core after some awful back nonsense. So while I keep starting and stopping, if I look at the big picture, I have done an awesome job of never giving up! I think that is the most motivating thing for me, especially right now that so much is off-limits while I’m in rehabilitation mode.

i have a stationary bike at home (one benefit from my divorce, haha) and typically will take turns doing that a few days a week with my boyfriend. and a couple months back, we started practicing judo twice a week with a buddy of his who happens to be a fifth-degree black belt, and it’s been amazing. i feel like a total badass, and like i could probably kick some ass if i were ever accosted on the street, haha. i’m obviously still learning, but it’s such a great, supportive community and all the higher-level guys are always there to answer questions and help out. highly recommended for a high-contact/moderate-impact workout with extra benefits :]

Any Cup of Jo ladies out there have recommendations for good low-impact exercise? I’ve developed knee problems in my 30s, so these days running is out of the question. I do yoga a few times a week, but I’m feeling like I should find something with more consistent/ challenging cardio to do regularly. I’ve thought about taking up swimming, but am totally intimidated by the idea of jumping in a pool and not knowing what I’m doing since I’ve never swam competitively! Any other ideas??

Over the years I’ve done all sorts of exercise. I’m someone who needs it, otherwise I get really cranky. Things I’ve enjoyed most are yoga classes (makes me really chilled out), Zumba and jogging. Unfortunately I broke a leg a couple of years ago and since then I’ve been nervous about running, and then I had a baby so … forget about it. I’ve run for fifteen minutes since then.
At the moment I do an adult ballet class (I did ballet from childhood into my teens) and I just love how I walk away from the class feeling taller, and once again being able to do something I really love (I think that’s key!).
I find music helps – Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Mika are too of my favourites, but anything that keeps you pumped!
I agree on the clothing as well. I used to exercise in gross tracksuit bottoms and ancient t shirts, but most recently I bought some Ivy Park (Beyoncé) leggings and when I’m feeling tired, my Beyoncé leggings urge me on! It’s like Bey is there with me (I’m sure she’s psyched at the idea)

I LOVE this post. I was a ballet dancer from the time I was 5 until I was 18 and once I went off to college I struggled big time to find my groove in another form of exercise. A lot of dancers were/are told not to run so I basically never ran during those 13 years of ballet. As a result, running in adulthood made me want to die. When a seven-time marathoner friend told me his trick to distance was to run slow (10+ minute miles) compared to many elite runners, I realized I was trying to run too fast and was burning myself out after five minutes. He also reminded me that he too “wants do die” during the first two miles which are usually the hardest, so making it past that point is so crucial. I finally just made myself run 3+ miles and achieved that runner’s high for the first time about four years ago. A few things I’ve found helpful to keeping myself motivated:

1) Run first thing in the morning before you can make any excuses.
2) Know that you’re going to feel amazing afterward (after I run, I feel like I just took a happy pill) and NOTHING is more important than being your best self both in your personal life and at work.
3) Mix it up! Don’t run the same route every day or it’ll get boring. Run 3-4 times per week: one incline based run, one easy going short run, one mid tier run, one “longer” run of 6+ miles.
4) Good music is key: if I can hear myself breathing, it’s game over.
5) Integrate some other form of exercise throughout the week. I just started pilates a few months ago and it’s absolutely addicting. The transformation I see and feel in my core makes running so much easier than ever.
6) Allow yourself to indulge in cute athleisure. There’s nothing better than a new pair of pants for your workout class :-)

I actually went running yesterday thanks to this inspiration! I love the direction your blog has been going. It really encourages me to be my engaged, educated, empowered, empathetic best self, without any of the self criticism. Way to go ladies on finding the crossover of inspiration and self love. More healthy living posts please! I can use all the encouragement I can get :)

Put money on the line! I use an app called Stickk and make a “commitment contract.” I commited to run 5k 3x/week. Any week that I miss I have to pay $50 to my little sister. I also use the app Map My Run, so I take a screenshot of my route when I’m done and send it to her, as proof. I think I’ve tried every other motivational trick imaginable, and this really works!

I’ve been having success lately through a few strategies. Choosing workouts that suit my body and my abilities rather than forcing myself to do things that I feel I “should” do. Focusing on activities that have room for goal setting, improvement, and freedom of expression has also been great! This fits into the bigger picture idea of respecting your body and where you are when you come to your workout. Don’t beat yourself up about set backs or challenges. Give yourself credit for showing up. Be brave and playful during the time you’ve set aside for self care, and allow yourself to feel pride in what you CAN do.

The biggest, most important thing, however, has been to remove the pressure to lose weight or shape my body in a certain way through exercise. Once I let go of that expectation I was able to see that I enjoy working out just for the sake of the movement itself and it’s non-weight loss benefits (anxiety control, strong bones and muscles, better sleep). Now I get grumpy when I can’t make it to the gym or my yoga class.

It’s also been motivating to follow body positive athletes on social media, and to talk to coaches and instructors and establish friendly relationships with them so I feel comfortable asking for help. Good luck getting into your groove!

I’ve never been an “athlete”. My brother was always the one involved in sports where I was too afraid to get hurt, so I never really tried to do anything. I still swear that if anyone ever sees me running on the street, they should probably run too because it means I am being chased. A few years ago I started going to a local dance studio that offers group fitness classes in the evenings. My family has a history of heart disease and my father and grandfather both died very young. In an effort to keep myself hear healthy, I do high intensity cardio about 4-5 days a week. I can honestly say that working out in this capacity has changed my life. I am happier, I have a lot more energy, and I am so much more motivated to do things day to day. The loud music, the women that belong to the studio and the way I feel afterwards is my motivation!! Being able to shut your mind off for one hour or two hours and devote your time to only yourself is amazing. One of the particular programs (Red Warrior Nation) is a Mind/Body fitness program. I contribute that to my success in my new job and my relationship. My boyfriend is trying to convince me to work out with him at his gym, but I am still nervous about the weight lifting machines!!

This year I made the goal to do yoga every week. My husband has a standing meeting every Tuesday night near my studio, so we encourage each other to get out of the house and walk home together after our respective events are over. It REALLY helps on days I don’t want to go.

To run, my friend and I signed up for a “virtual” half marathon where we had to total up to 13.1 miles over however many runs we chose. Having a friend to hold me accountable to a goal was a big motivator too! By the time we finished I was in good enough shape to want to keep going on my own.

Of course then I promptly got a knee injury so I’m back off running, but still doing the weekly yoga.

Writing exercising times into your calendar at the beginning of the week – it helps THAT much!