Exercise: Staying Motivated in Uncertain Times
Having a hard time getting motivated to exercise? Living amid the COVID-19 pandemic, shut-downs and social distancing, things are topsy-turvy for everyone. But sticking with your exercise plan is one of the best things you can do for yourself. The first step is to decide that exercise would truly be useful to you. When you consider making a lifestyle change, or any major decision, you will consciously (or unconsciously) be weighing the trade-offs to your daily life.
When we make decisions, we weigh the pros and cons along with the gains and losses. We also consider our values and whether the decision will be considered right or wrong, good or bad.
Some questions we consider are:
- If I don’t make any change in what I am currently doing, what will be the negative impact?
- What will happen in the long term?
- How might this impact my life, my family, my ability to do the things that are important to me?
- How will my life be different?
- What are the potential benefits in the long term?
- What are the drawbacks about making the changes?
- What knowledge and or skills would I need to develop?
- What are the time commitments in learning the new skills?
Consider a journal to write down the above questions, and take time to answer them. To actually make a change, the scale needs to tip so that the benefits outweigh the costs. Then you have to accept that you may go through some transitional, possible discomfort in order to make a new normal for yourself. If you are having a difficult time being consistent with your exercise, this PDF worksheet will help you define your stance to make it a part of your lifestyle.
