How to get motivated to exercise at any time

Having participated in many endurance events, including a triathlon and 3 day AIDS Ride,  I am no slouch when it comes to sticking to a workout schedule. But getting myself to consistently work out wasn’t always easy – and I completely understand what it feels like to not want to do it. Here’s what I do to get moving:

Music, please – fill your iPod, MP3 player, or walkman (don’t laugh – I was still using  one just a few years ago) with motivating music that gets you moving. I like rock – some of my (newer) favorites are Vampire Weekend, The Hives and Sloan -  older faves include U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Van Halen.

Set a goal – This is embarrassing, but I’ll tell you anyway. In the early 2000′s, when leather pants were hot, I wanted to get a pair but wouldn’t until I reached a certain goal weight/size. I called my quest “project leather pants” and came up with a whole plan to get me there -  eating clean, running on a regular schedule and working out at the gym. After a few months of
my project, I succeeded and bought the pants.

Find a partner – Working out with a friend, like I talked about last week, always helps get me motivated.

Just do it – The hardest part about working out is getting yourself to the gym, or pressing play on your DVD player or outside. When I was in training for my events, I decided that I  would work out first thing in the morning. Each night I laid out my workout clothes so that they would be the first thing I saw in the morning. As soon as the alarm went off, I’d roll out of bed
and put on my clothes. Once I was out the door, it was easy to get started.

The more times you practice this habit, the easier it becomes. Try it for 21 days – the amount of time it takes to create a habit – and see how easy it will be to keep doing it.