You know that exercise improves your physical and mental well-being. The benefits of physical activity have been discussed in length, and everyone knows it by now.
However, getting up from the couch to work out is a struggle. Many people still do not get the proper physical activity that their bodies need to be healthy and strong.
The Problem of Being Sedentary
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60 percent of Americans do not get the recommended amount of physical activity regularly, which for adults means 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity workout per week. About 25 percent of adults across the United States are not active at all.
There are various reasons why people do not exercise. Many have chronic illnesses that prevent them from doing strenuous physical activities. Others are incredibly busy with work or school that they do not have the time nor energy to work out.
There are, however, people who are too lazy to work out. While working out is good for the body and the mind in the long run, doing it is not always pleasant. You sweat, your heart rate and breathing increase, and your muscles ache afterward. It is much more pleasant to lie on the bed all day, watching Netflix or scrolling Instagram.
It does not have to be that way. You can beat laziness and maybe become a fitness enthusiast.
The Psychology of Laziness
No person is born lazy. Laziness happens because of various reasons that are unique to a person. In most cases, however, laziness results from having long-term goals and not getting immediate gratification. In terms of exercise, here is how it happens: health is a long-term commitment and, for you to achieve it, you have to consciously make choices that will positively affect your health. Watching television, on the other hand, is pleasant because it makes you laugh or cry. In short, you get instant pleasure out of it.
Others have not actually found what they want to do yet, or they cannot grasp the purpose of doing whatever it is, which, in this case, is exercise. For example, they see health as a personal mission, not something that will impact the lives of people they love.
But, just as much as laziness is acquired, it can also be unlearned.
Manipulate Your Brain
It has been common advice for people who do not have the motivation to exercise to trick their brain into starting by wearing gym clothes. This act alone, they say, has a positive impact on your mindset. It turns out, according to research, it is true.
About nine of 10 gym-goers revealed in a recent survey that donning sportswear encourages them to push their own limits.
So, if you want to start exercising, you will need to go shopping for sportswear. Better yet, design it on your own. You do not need to make it fancy. A good-fitting, comfortable, and breathable shirt works just as well. Get a machine that will heat press a motivational quote on it so that, every time you look in a mirror, you will be reminded why you are doing it.
Be Realistic About Your Goals
Your goal is to be healthy, but that is not really measurable or easily achieved. Setting unrealistic goals will only make you less motivated to work out, especially when you do not see the results that you want. You will be burned out immediately. You will be less likely to continue exercising.
Instead of focusing on the physical gains, measure your progress by your performance. For example, if this month, you jogged for 15 minutes. Next month, increase it to 20 or 30 minutes. These gradual improvements will make you feel better.
Recognize that Perfection is Unachievable
Perfection is not the goal, and no one is perfect anyway. Expecting perfection from yourself will only make you competitive and overly critical of your own actions and results. Moreover, studies have proposed that wanting to achieve perfection will lead to avoidance coping, in which a person escapes a stressor by refusing to think about it or do it.
Appreciate what you can do and what you have achieved so far. Doing so will allow you to enjoy working out.
Laziness is a common problem and a complex one. There are different reasons why a person is lazy, whether to exercise or do any activity. But, it is a habit that you can get rid of by following these tips.
