Did you know you can motivate yourself to work out if you give these tips a try?
Everyone talks about how working out in retirement is one of the best things you can do. But how can you motivate yourself to do it?
In the end, while we all know it is a good idea, it can be pretty hard to find the motivation to start when you haven’t worked out in a while, or it can be hard to start again.
You may also think, on a mental level, that it is too late for you to do it!
Here at Golden Years Bliss, we know how tough it can be for retirees and are here to help you. Since it can be hard to motivate yourself, we have found some of the best ways to help yourself not only start but also upkeep your workout schedule.
After all, starting and continuing to work out are both hard and if you can trick yourself into it and manage to motivate yourself, we are sure you can manage to continue with the plan you set forth!
From how you can finally start your desired workout all the way to how you can continue it in a healthy way, keep reading to discover our best tips for a consistent workout routine in retirement!
Do you plan to work out in retirement? Do you already have a routine? What keeps you going? Let us know in the comments below!
Start with a group!
A great way to motivate yourself is to not work out alone.
Studies done in this area have shown that people who end up working out with acquaintances, friends, and even family end up sticking to their workout plans more often than those who start on this path alone.
This is not to say that you cannot motivate yourself to work out alone, but rather that if you are finding it hard to get started, roping some of your friends and family into it may end up being beneficial for all of you.
Be it that you end up starting small with going on frequent walks with a friend or that you sign up for a workout class with your spouse, any sort of exercise you get into may end up sticking as part of your weekly routine since you have someone there with you.
What’s more, it does wonders for moral support as well. A lot of us do not end up working out because we are afraid others will judge us, that we will not be able to ask people questions, and so on and so forth.
By exercising with someone you know and trust, you will find the idea of working out less daunting, and you will be able to make new friends and acquaintances at the workout classes too!
Two birds with one stone: health and socializing!
Appease your inner child!
Many of us used to play some sort of sport when we were younger. Or there may be something that you have always been interested in doing but have never done.
There are many ways in which you can use your inner child to motivate yourself to work out. What was the one thing you loved to do when you were young?
Be it playing catch with your dog or going to play frisbee in the park, you can still pick them up now!
There are lots of retirees who have gotten back into long-lost hobbies, regardless of whether they haven’t practiced them for years.
A friend has gotten back into hoola hooping, and another one has picked up roller skating again!
As long as you pick up an exercise and do it to the best of your ability while starting safely and mindful of your health, you should not care about how others will perceive you.
Not to mention, you once loved to do this activity, so why not use that way to motivate yourself?
Go back to swimming classes and start belly dancing if that’s what you want to do!
The best thing is that as long as you get some exercise in, be it a workout class, going biking, or playing frisbee in the park with your nephews, it counts as starting active, which is your goal as a retiree!
Distractions can help!
We know it sounds antithetical, but in the end, if you find exercise boring, finding a way to distract yourself may just be the key to motivation!
A lot of us have gotten some sort of exercise item at home that has been gathering dust in a corner of the garage.
The best way to motivate yourself to start using it (besides the idea that you wasted money on workout gear) is to distract yourself while you are exercising.
This can mean watching an episode of your favorite show while on the elliptical or listening to the news while walking on the treadmill.
A lot of people have mentioned how motivating themselves to start to be more active is not an issue, but upkeeping the routine is because they find it boring.
If you start to distract yourself with something else you enjoy, such as listening to music, an audiobook, or a podcast, and even watching the news or a show, the time spent on these exercises will fly by, and you will no longer find them as daunting!
Simply adding music that you find uplifting can be a great way to start, and then you can try out the other suggestions we had.
Many do not want to “waste time” during exercise, so why not double the things you do and make the most of your time while also staying active?
Just make sure you are still aware of your environment and body so as not to accidentally injure yourself! Some distractions are good; too much can be dangerous!
What helped me when I just started out was to cycle while watching one of my favorite shows. Good thing Friends is on Amazon Prime, and believe me, it’s always a great rewatch!
If you have been trying to slowly get into working out, why not motivate yourself and start small? That way, you do not have to give too much of your time to stay active, and you slowly build up the strength for bigger and better exercises! These 15-minute exercise routines for seniors are the best ones for any retiree looking to improve their lives!
