You read constantly in the newspapers, magazine articles and self help books about ways to eat right and get fit. But why is it so hard to get to the gym or go outside for a walk? Why is it not easy to eat the food we know is good for us? Why is it so hard to keep your workout plan? You may know the answers to these questions already or you may still be struggling at finding the reasons why. But there is only one reason: Motivation.
Jim Loehr, a sports psychologist and CEO of LGE Performance Systems in Orlando, FL states that those who succeed in achieving a healthy lifestyle create a habit that is seductive enough so their behaviour pulls on them rather than having to push it. Motivation is driven by intrinsic (ie. your motivation to play outdoor soccer is because you love it) and extrinsic values (i.e. you are motivated to work because of the financial rewards). So to success, Loehr recommended the following to get you started on your road to success in achieving positive health outcomes.
Plan Your Work. Know what you want. Be passionate. Find reasons you want to achieve success. In other words, what motivates you? To create the habits of success, by finding reasons, you explore your deeper values. Maybe you want more energy at the end of the day to spend quality time with loved ones or maybe you want more confidence so that you can better enjoy your work, your relationships and life in general. Take the time to write down your reasons to succeed right now and jot them down.
Make success your priority. Put health on your “to do” list. Its often difficult to change a long standing daily habit of going to work, eating, watching television. But review your reasons why you want to change your habits into a healthy ones. Some keep this list nearby along with motivational quotes to keep you going. Mentally prepare yourself by becoming aware of your detrimental daily vices. Lying on the couch watching your favorite soap? Get up and reach your arms in the air. Get into the habit of stretching often. Going to meet the girls for a drink after work? Suggest that you meet in the park (or even the mall) to go for a walk. Consider ways in your day where you can put fitness/exercise in for this week without changing you routine entirely. This is when your creativity and motivation play heavily here.
Set Deadlines. This is the difference between a dreamer and one who lives their dreams. By setting a deadline, you force yourself to do what needs to get done. By writing down what you need to do, you also form a “blueprint” for success and a visual reminder of your progress.
Work Your Plan. Be precise. Stay disciplined. Keep a log book that you can use to report your progress. Did you walk for 40 minutes and reach your target heart rate level 3x this wk? What have you eaten in the last week? Did you meet your nutitional guidelines of recommended servings each day? By reviewing this log book regularly, you can monitor your success and discover ways to improve and fine tune your fitness success plan. Do something every day that moves you forward.
Visualize Your Success. Picture yourself going for more millimetres into that yoga posture. Imagine the week when you are able to run 5km under 45min. Think about a night where you have the energy to do that “one more round” of basketball with your child. Review your plan regularly and visualize yourself always implementing you plan. By visualizing your success, you move towards the directions of your dreams.
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