GRATITUDE AND ENJOYMENT

The two important principles for success. Sounds simple yet always forgotten. Let’s revisit these two winning ingredients to tap into that winning attitude towards exercise in this time of lock down 🙌

 

So how do you feel about exercise? What is exercise to you? Is it something you “HAVE” to do or is it something you “WANT” to do? During this particular time of anxiety and uncertainties, some of us just get on with our daily exercise. It plays an important part of our day. However for many, this lockdown actually makes it even harder to exercise. The demotivation occurs with that feeling of ‘groundhog’ day. The good intention of daily exercise disappears. We end up staying in the bubble doing no physical activity. The normal routine has gone perhaps because there is no gym environment or the social aspects of exercising with friends. Or perhaps after a few days of some activities we get bored. All those workouts from YouTube, Instagram or Facebook become a chore. So how are we going to tackle and reverse this behaviour? I’ve been thinking lately about some of the reasons as to why this feeling can happen. Our state of mind is very important. And sharing some solutions here on how to keep our motivation in check would help us to understand why it needs to start with our mindset of GRATITUDE and ENJOYMENT.

 

Firstly, some of us find that exercise is second nature. We get up in the morning and we don’t think twice about it. We just get up and “want” to exercise. For us it is a natural process like breathing. We actually do it because it’s who we are, and subconsciously we don’t have to think too much about it. We do it and we naturally enjoy it. On the other hand, some of us may not feel the same. We think exercise is something we “should” or “have” to do. We need the push from someone else. It doesn’t come naturally to us. It takes a lot of thinking to perform the act, and then to actually do the exercise. Sometimes we may even procrastinate. Often we contemplate far too long and then the day is gone and we still haven’t done any exercise! If this resonates with you, it’s all good. Just realise that you may need to put more effort to train your mindset first so you can then consciously ‘want’ to exercise. Simple. Let’s try this. The first thing to do is to push the RESET button. Doesn’t matter about last week, yesterday or 10mins ago. It’s all about what your brain is thinking right now. The goal to the first reset is to create the mind of GRATITUDE. Physical activities or movements are a blessing. They are NOT chores. Yes. Amen!! 🙏 Being able to move is a blessing. We as human beings are designed and made to move.

Think about this. “There are other people who might be sick or physically unable to do it.” - Appreciate that we are given a chance everyday to move and be active. We are grateful to have this opportunity. It is a privilege that shouldn’t be taken for granted. And this mind set is empowering. It shifts us from just ‘thoughts’ into ACTION.

 

The second principle is ENJOYMENT. Do you enjoy what you do? Or is it because everyone is doing it? Prior to lockdown, maybe the gym environment or the push from our exercise buddies is a channel to create that enjoyment. But how do you feel now? Are you still doing the same exercises on your own but there is less enjoyment? It’s natural not to wanting to continue when there is no enjoyment. So it’s definitely OK to try other things. You will eventually find something new that you like. The key here is enjoyment. When you have joy, somehow it becomes effortless. Find ways to recreate this enjoyment on your own. Be spontaneous. Listen to what the body needs. It could be to dial down. A brisk walk rather than a run, a weight session rather than a cardio session, a stretch/yoga/body balance session rather than the HITT session that you are used to. Or dial it up. It could be a completely new and different challenge. Even if it’s a bit scary to start with. The challenges and intensities develop confidence and may even surprise you. YES being uncomfortable also creates a different kind of enjoyment 🤪 Nothing beats the feeling of achievement and the high when you finish a good workout right!!?? Start your day with gratitude and see what happens.

GRATITUDE IS ENJOYMENT. 
Thank you for reading ❤️