Environment > Motivation
When it comes to fitness, a lot of people believe it is up to motivation to get your workouts completed. However, quite frankly it is about discipline and consistency. Somedays you will not feel motivated to exercise, but these are the days where you have to get the workouts completed to reach your health and fitness goals.
Actually, a great way to help you through the days when you feel unmotivated is setting up your environment for success. Here are some ways you can change your environment to help you get to where you want to be!
“Be careful of the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.”
Friends: If you want to exercise 3-5 days a week, are your circle of friends exercising?
We tend to pick up habits from the people around us. If your friends do not exercise, it will be harder to pick up a habit of regular exercise. If this is the case, I would recommend finding friends that exercise religiously. Being around them can help you feel the need to move more and they are able to give you tips.
Surrounding Environment: A huge way to change your daily habits, is by taking control of your environment. A lot of individuals believe it takes a lot of self-discipline to succeed, but in reality the most successful people avoid being in environments that are tempting. If you know you are going to be tempted to do something you are trying to avoid, get out of that environment.
Along with this, control your surroundings! If you are trying to drink more water throughout the day, place a bottle of water around your place. Place one in your bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen, etc. to remind yourself to drink water. The more available the water is, the more likely you are going to drink more.
Recognize cues: We do certain actions because of emotional cues. When some people get anxious, they drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or over eat. It is important to recognize the cues that make us desire unhealthy habits. More importantly, it is crucial to replace these unhealthy habits with healthier ones. We have to think what triggers these cues, and make new associated habits. Therefore, if you are feeling anxious, go for a run, take 10 deep breaths, meditate, or use a journal. The more you are aware of your cues and triggers, the more you can control your environment.
We establish a particular relationship with our environment. Therefore, create an environment to get you your desired results. If you want to start getting ready for your workouts, get ready at the same place before your workouts. Once you start getting ready there, your mind and body automatically starts thinking, “it’s game time” and starts associating the environment with exercise.
