USE TECHNOLOGY
CHANGE WHAT DOESN’T WORK
STICKING to a regular exercise plan means finding the type, level and frequency of exercise that works for you.
Finding this balance inevitably involves some trial and error. If you have a few false starts, don’t get bogged down in blaming yourself and feeling like a failure. Just acknowledge that what you tried didn’t work and try something else.
FROM smartphone apps to fitness trackers there is an abundance of technology out there to help you assess your fitness progress and boost your motivation.
Just be careful to keep some flexibility in your fitness goals and make sure that tracking your progress doesn’t get too addictive.
REWARD YOURSELF
REWARDING yourself for hitting your exercise targets is a great way to stay motivated and this type of positive reinforcement will make it more likely that you repeat the desired behaviour in future.
Don’t go overboard or you will end up undoing all your hard work. However, a well timed treat can be a powerful incentive.
WHEN inspired to get fit, people often make the mistake of trying to do too much too soon and end up failing to achieve their goals.
When this happens it’s easy to give up on exercise altogether. It’s much more effective to start off small and build up slowly. Sometimes known as the Goldilocks Effect, you should be aiming for a routine that isn’t too hard or too easy, but just right.
As your fitness improves
make sure you increase the level of intensity accordingly to keep building on your progress.
Dr Ellie Milby is a counselling psychologist