May 6, 2008

Spring is here, and my trainer Jeremy Manning of Titan Fitness has some positive thoughts to share, and hopefully get you motivated!

Top Ten Ways to Get Off Your Butt and Into the Groove

1. Take action by setting a few small tasks in motion. Make a list of five things (no matter how easy they seem) and start on them. See if you can wash just five dishes or go to the gym for just five minutes. Go ahead, give it a try.

2. Ease your thoughts and take out the “should” and “need–to” statements, like, “I should go to the gym.” Try thinking to yourself, “It would be nice if I ate healthy today” or “It would be nice if I went to the gym tonight.” See how good that feels?

3. Make your own top ten list! Write down ten things you accomplished or that you are thankful for. 1. Went to the gym. 2. Saw a hot guy at the gym. C’mon, it’s only ten positive things, and how many bad things did you mentally list today? Mmhmm, two snaps to that.

4. Express yo-self, don’t depress yo-self! That’s right… Give a friend a call, ask him/her to join you, or just talk about your feelings. When you lighten the load, it’s a whole lot easier to lift.

5. Surround yourself with positive people, or just be around people. When you’re stuck in a rut, being alone inside your head isn’t going to help you get to the gym or away from the fridge.

6. Don’t be afraid to fail. Seriously, everyone makes mistakes, and the more action you take to feel better about yourself, the better you will feel.

7. If you do make a mistake, don’t label yourself with “I am” statements. Replace “I’m lazy for not going to the gym” with “It would have been nice if I went to the gym.” Or “I will feel better when I get to the gym.” You are not your actions.

8. Visualize a positive outcome. Think of it vividly, inject emotion, give in to your dreams and desires and that’s right… That’s it… Just get up and… There you go! You’re doing it! Keep going!

9. Break the big tasks up into small tasks. When you’re feeling down, the last thing you want to think about is a week’s worth of meals you have to make and dishes you have to wash. So don’t. Think about one good meal that you want to make and focus on that. You don’t know how you’re going to be feeling tomorrow (and since after reading this, you’ll be feeling great, why not wait to think about it then?).

10. Have fun! After all, this is YOUR life, why not enjoy as much of it as you can. Find some soothing music to listen to while you work out, go to a park for your run, or find a new, locally owned store to buy your groceries. Sometimes just appreciating the culture of your neighborhood can turn a chore into a relaxing part of your day.