Finding motivation to work out and maintain an exercise regimen may have been hard before, but today’s current circumstances have made it a lot harder. Your source for motivation can fall into one of two main categories: intrinsic (internal) meaning you do something because it makes YOU feel good, or extrinsic (external) meaning you do something due to outside influences; below are some examples of each type of motivation.
| Intrinsic Motivation | Extrinsic Motivation |
| Wanting to lose weight because you feel better | Wanting to lose weight to fit into a certain size |
| Working out because it relieves stress | Working out because you want to reach a goal weight |
| Lifting weights because you enjoy the feeling of getting stronger | Lifting weights because you want larger/more defined muscles |
| Going for a run because you can zone out | Going for a run because you signed up to run a race with friends |
All of us are both internally and externally motivated to some extent. However, some people tend to be more internally motivated, while others gravitate toward external motivation. For those that are more externally motivated, adapting and maintaining your workout routine during the current COVID-19 restrictions and closures can be difficult. The time at the gym with friends, socializing during group exercise classes, and your personal training sessions may have all been things keeping you in a routine. So how do you find the motivation to keep up your routine, or if you stopped, how do you find the motivation to get back into it?
First and foremost, motivation is not something that will appear without any work. The blunt fact is that you will need to put in some effort. Start by creating a S.M.A.R.T goal – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound. One frequent example of a goal is wanting to lose weight before a vacation, however, saying that you want to lose 20 pounds for your vacation in a month is not realistic. A more realistic goal would be losing 5 pounds in the month before your vacation because it is specific, can be measured (e.g. weigh yourself weekly), fits within the recommended weekly weight loss of 1-2 pounds (i.e. is attainable and realistic), and is time-bound (i.e. 1 month). After you have your S.M.A.R.T goal, you can then develop a plan of how you will reach that goal along with some contingency plans if things get off track.
Remember to keep things simple and enjoyable! Life is already stressful and constantly changing amidst the pandemic; the goal is not to add more stress. By setting small, attainable goals, you can work your way toward that overarching goal.
Our Wellness Center is one way that you can take that first step toward reaching your physical and wellness goals. We have staff on hand that can assist with learning how to use our cardio and weight machines, or who can offer advice on workouts. You can choose from a variety of group exercise classes, some of which are included with your membership, along with several different membership payment options. If you have questions about classes, memberships, or would like to see our newly updated space, then give us a call at 507-831-0673. Please check our website for COVID-19 restrictions.
By Lindsey Englar