Let’s face it, staying in shape and being healthy takes work. The most difficult part is staying committed and motivated to the idea of daily exercise. Whether you are working toward fitness or weight loss goals, we all need a little extra motivation to keep us moving in a positive direction. Here are some motivation tips that help me stay committed to working out and staying healthy.

Be Realistic!

Make sure your goals for a workout session are sensible and realistic. If you hate running, don’t expect to jump on a treadmill and run for an hour. This is not only not realistic but could result in injury if you are not used to running long distances. Chances are if you really hate running and force yourself to make this your workout, you will most likely quit if you feel you failed on your first attempt. For example, if you are determined to making running on the treadmill a new edition to your exercise routine, start off small and gradually work up. With any new exercise routine, start slow and take it one day at a time. Creating attainable goals that you can reach is a first step in keeping yourself motivated.

Make it Fun!

This is the most important tip to stay motivated. If you view exercise as a chore, it will be difficult to stay committed. Working out doesn’t have to mean sweating it out at the gym. If you don’t have a gym membership, there are lots of ways to stay healthy and exercise. If you like being in the water, take up swimming. If you like to hike or jog, grab a friend and head to the nearest park or lake for a nice change of scenery. You don’t need expensive equipment to work out and some of the simpler activities are the most fun.

Make it part of your daily routine.

If exercise becomes something that is part of your daily routine it is much easier to complete without the dread of trying to squeeze it into your day. Remember daily exercise doesn’t have to be a huge planned activity. Simply grabbing a work buddy every day at lunch and taking a 20-30 minute walk or running the stairs a couple times counts toward your daily exercise. Plan an activity you enjoy doing and make it a priority- don’t talk yourself out of doing something because you think something else is more important. Staying healthy and being fit is a large part of your health and well-being and is a priority.

Find a workout buddy.

It is always easier to stay motivated when you have a partner. Partner up and push each other to stay committed to daily work outs!