Get Moving: How to Find your Exercise Mojo and Stick with It*

*Without forking out for an expensive gym membership that you'll never use

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I get it. You’ve had a shocker of a day. Your head is fried. The kids have just about admitted defeat and are falling asleep. All you want to do is sink into the sofa with a large glass of whatever, enjoy some nibbles, and binge watch Selling Sunset Series 6, until you’re ready to crawl into bed. If you’re lucky and it’s the weekend, the kids / pets might let you lie-in tomorrow morning (6.30am - WOW, you lucky devil, you!), before the whole circus starts up again.

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Kicking back, relaxing and indulging in guilty pleasures... these are all, absolutely, your divine right. You totally deserve them, so please, do not feel guilty for treating yourself.

But at the back of your mind there’s a niggle. You have the best of intentions for tomorrow.

You’ll go to the gym! (After all, that once-a-month Pilates class that you’re managing to get to is costing you £100).

You’ll make a picnic and take the kids and the dogs for a gorgeous long walk in the countryside! (The dogs will definitely appreciate it. The kids are a different matter, especially when it starts raining).

You’ll go for a run! (Those brand-new running shoes are still spotless).

But… well… you just can’t be arsed. You’re tired, fed up, and whatever mojo you once had has buggered off elsewhere.

So how are we going to get you out of this rut? The last thing you need is someone (me) banging on about the benefits of exercise. WE ALL KNOW THEM! You just need a little motivation to help you along.

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Here are my five top tips for getting your exercise mojo back: -

1. Start small: If you’ve been out of the game for a while, it’s important to start small and work your way up. Don’t go throwing yourself into a 10K race without, literally, doing the leg work beforehand. You’ll hurt yourself. Start with something simple like a short walk, and gradually increase your time and intensity. Back when we were in the midst of the pandemic, I was doing a lot of walk-and-talk meetings, which I’ve recently resurrected. It’s my favourite way to get my step count up when I’m in the office.

   

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2. Find an exercise buddy: Having someone to exercise with can be a great motivator. You can hold each other accountable and provide support when one of you is feeling down. It’s precisely why I set up a new running group in my hometown a few months ago, because I knew that there were people out there who wanted to give it a go but needed that extra motivation from having others running alongside them.

   

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3. Try something new: If you’re feeling bored with your current exercise routine, try something new. Sign up for a dance class or boot camp, try yoga, or take up swimming. Or, if you’re like me and used to be a mad-for-it clubber ‘back in the day’, then how about giving Clubbercise a go? Apparently they even get the glowsticks out. (Note to self to try this one!)

   

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4. Set goals… but also make sure you enjoy the process: Goal setting isn’t for everyone. It can help give you something to work towards and keep you motivated, but it can also make things feel more chore-like. It depends on how you’re wired. Personally, I feel the most important thing is to find joy in the process (and if you’re going to set yourself some goals, then make sure they are realistic and achievable).

   

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5. Picture yourself after you’ve done the thing you want to do: Imagine how good you are going to feel when you’ve achieved it! And sure, if it helps to incentivise you further (or if it just gives you an excuse to spend some money on yourself!) then buy yourself that new pair of trainers or that dress for being so bloody awesome.

   

   Photo by Jenna Day on Unsplash

Remember that it’s okay to take a break from exercise if you need it. Sometimes our bodies need rest, and taking a break can actually help us come back stronger and more motivated than ever before.

I hope this helps. Now let’s get you moving!

xx