WASHINGTON — A lot of us make resolutions around exercise that we have a hard time keeping, but there are ways to get back on track.
Boston Globe health blogger Deborah Kotz says there are plenty of ways to trick yourself into working out.
If you wake up in the morning and just can’t face the prospect of working out, Kotz says to make a deal with yourself.
“Say, ‘I’ll give myself seven minutes, get into my workout clothes … and if I’m really not enjoying my workout after seven minutes, I can stop,'” she says.
Of course, you’re tricking yourself — Kotz says that the feel-good endorphins that exercise produces kick in after about six minutes. So once you hit the seven-minute mark, you’ll probably want to keep going.
Some other tips Kotz suggests are:
- Listen to your workout playlist before exercising. Kotz says you associate the songs with exercise and will get going.
- Use exercise as an antidepressant. Research shows exercising three days a week, can help ward off depression and can help you tackle the seasonal blues head on.
- Put it in the calendar. Treating it like an appointment can make it a priority.
- Try something new. Break up your routine with a new exercise DVD, work out class or a trainer.
- Work out with a friend. A fit friend can help motivate you to hit the gym and set goals.
WTOP’s Lori Lundin contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on the WTOP Facebook page.
