I originally wrote this answer on Quora, and it has garnered more than 10,000 views. ¹https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-motivate-myself-or-make-sure-that-I-workout-exercise-every-day/answer/Akash-Sehrawat-1

“Motivation is like bathing; you need it every day.” ~ Zig Ziglar

If we go back to our ancestor’s days, movement/exercise was a necessity for them. They had to hunt to survive. They had to walk to find shelter. They had to keep moving if they needed to survive on a daily basis. Unfortunately, with today’s advancement in technology, exercise is taken for granted.

Its an option…or it’s not?

What happens when we don’t exercise, eat junk and sit all day? We can still survive, right? Yes, we may, but it won’t be easy! Your chances of having any chronic ailment will increase. You may suffer from frequent headaches and mood disorders. The list is endless. Bottomline is,

‘Living Unfit Is Hard. Living Fit Is Easy’

Did I say that?

Ask any overweight person how they have to struggle to go to the gym every single day literally. Well, it feels like that at the start, but once you have built enough momentum (think of an avalanche), you become unstoppable. You don’t feel good if you don’t exercise.

For me personally, movement is so embedded in my subconscious mind that I automatically get pulled toward my workouts. Come what it may, I have trained my mind to prioritize my workout over anything else.

Envious? Don’t be; I have worked hard to get where I am, and I can help you do the same 🙂 Know this,

“Change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end.” ~Robin Sharma.

If you have just begun to build exercise into a habit, it will be tough. It may seem like you are trying to push a stationary train. Nothing happens so fast. You need to give it time for your body to adapt (and start building working out into a habit).

Keep At It And Apply These 10 Pointers To Motivate Yourself Until You Can Say This Proudly

Living fit is easy while living unfit is hard.

1) Vanity Is Good; Let It Drive You, But Don’t Overdo It

I credit my workout habit to my desire of wanting to look good. In addition, I was extremely thin and desperately wanted to put on some brawn. You can read my entire story.

Related Article: My Story

We all have different challenges,  gaining weight or losing body fat. Let vanity drive you; use this energy and feeling to propel you forward. Every time you go to a party or get together, and are conscious of your protruding belly, promise yourself that you will look the best the next time you go to such get-togethers.

Just make sure of two things. First, don’t look for shortcuts, weight loss pills, excessive use of supplements, drugs or steroids or even surgeries. Secondly, vanity simply needs to be balanced out by becoming the healthiest version of yourself!

2) Start Small And Build It Over Time

Do just one push every day. Yes, just one. The Key is to start small. As James Clear says in this free guide, ‘Transform Your Habits.’ ²https://jamesclear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/habits-v2.pdf

Getting caught up in the desire to make massive changes in your life is incredibly easy. We want to earn more, do more and be more right now. I’ve felt those things, so I get it. But, although I applaud this enthusiasm, it’s important to keep in mind that lasting change is a product of daily habits, not once-in-a-lifetime transformations.

If you want to start a new habit and begin living healthier and happier, I cannot emphasize this enough: start small. In the words of Leo Babauta,

“Make it so easy that you can’t say no.”

3) Practice The Action Habit

Action Preceded Action. Use mechanical force to start your mind engine. Get into the act. Successful people build routines, not willpower. A wise man once said that 50% of the work is just showing up.

So if you don’t feel like going to the gym, simply wear your shoes and show up; I promise your attendance at the gym this year will go up.

‘Something is better than nothing.’ A rough draft is better than an empty page. I have almost a dozen drafts on quora and my blog, articles that I want to write. That’s how I manage almost 1,000 words daily.

4) Workout/Exercise First Thing In The Morning

Now, I am of the notion that if it has to happen, it has to happen First. You see, we have limited willpower. Roy Baumeister’s experiment proves this fact. If you complete all your important tasks before noon ( exercise being at the top of the list ), chances are very high that they will get done!

5) Do Something That You Really Enjoy

If you don’t enjoy weight training, don’t do it just because your trainer tells you it’s the only way to get lean and toned; instead, I highly recommend finding something that you enjoy. With so many options, from Zumba to Spinning classes, to Power Yoga to Crossfit, choose something that strongly resonates with you. You are more likely to stick with it in the long term.

6) Designate A Small Area Of Your House To Do Your Exercise

This is important; I know you have an annual gym membership (although stats suggest that more than half of gym members are inactive). Even then, considering today’s traffic conditions (unless you can see the gym from your bedroom window), the whole process of getting ready and going to the gym can be a big task for anyone.

I am not discouraging you from going to the gym; what I am suggesting is a path of least resistance. There will be days where due to late-night parties, watching bad TV till 2 am, or probably not having slept properly, you simply don’t feel like going to the gym.

But if you have a fitness sanctuary at home, chances are very high that you can burn some calories doing basic bodyweight exercises or Yoga. This makes sure that the link is not broken, and your subconscious mind gets the signal that you are a stubborn guy who will do some movement every day, no matter what.

For the last 10 years, I haven’t missed any of my workout sessions due to a lack of motivation (sick days, vacations etc., don’t count).

7) Set Reminders Throughout The Day

Alongside being an entrepreneur and an expert on health and fitness, I consider myself a sales guy too. And the most important thing I learned in sales is follow-ups. Stats suggest that you have to get the message in front of your audience at least 7 times before you can make a sale.

Think of your workout session as making a sale. Put reminders on your phone, and download apps that will assist you in the same. Recently I downloaded an app that reminds me to meditate for a few minutes throughout the day!

8) Don’t Listen To Too Many People

Too many cooks spoil the broth. Find someone you can trust, who is friendly, who you can relate to. Find someone who is in it for the passion, enjoys encouraging you to get results and is in it for the long term.

Sure no one is running a charity here, and we all want to progress professionally and provide our family with the best things money can buy. But look for people who have a genuine desire to see your success. These people are in it for passion ( money is usually a by-product ).

There are many scamsters out there who simply want to sell you miracle diet pills, bogus supplements that promise you a ripped physique in no time! But, guys, they don’t work. Period!

Nor are there magic ab rockers that can give you six packs overnight. You need to work hard and have to earn your body. If it were easy, everyone would do it. But it’s hard, and that’s what makes it worth it. Your guts and instincts will tell you the truth. Use common sense, and you’ll do just fine. Just question everything and everyone!

9) Multi-Task Simple Movements Like Walking With Other Work (This Helps Save Time Too)

-When you watch TV, commit to yourself that whenever advertisements will come, you will get up and walk or simply do 5 pushups or sit-ups.

-Every odd day, commit to taking the stairs if the situation arrives.

-Stand and work. (I have a custom-made standing desk and stand 60% of the time and work, and now I feel more comfortable standing and working than sitting!) See, I told you living fit is easy.

-Don’t sit down and spend time with your kid (get a dog, or if you are not married or have a kid yet). Find an opportunity to play a game with him that requires both of you to move around: Like ‘Hide and seek’ or any sport. This low-intensity exercise boosts your energy and does not tax your CNS (central nervous system). You will feel more energized after this.

-Walk more. Whenever your phone rings, walk and talk. Go for evening or morning walks. My best ideas come when I walk (never ever when I am seated) or when I am showering!

-Buy a Fitbit band. 6 months back, I purchased a Fitbit band and was shocked to realize I was taking less than 3,000 steps (sedentary behavior). A few months later, I started averaging 7,000+ steps daily (active behavior). But I somehow lost my band, and then my step count decreased! ³https://www.amazon.com/Fitbit-Charge-Wireless-Activity-Wristband/dp/B00N2BVOUE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1457754908&sr=8-3&keywords=fitbit&linkCode=sl1&tag=wwwfabulousbo-20&linkId=cecba9fef04efa8b890b502f9fbeee4e&th=1

Yes, if you have a monitoring mechanism and can check at various intervals how you are doing, you tend to do better. However, there are many cheap options available on amazon that are really good quality. GOQii is one such company, and they are doing a great job!

If nothing else works, do this.

10) Pay Your Friend Money Every Time You Miss A Session (And Ensure The Amount Is Big Enough That It Should Hurt Every Time You Pay Him/Her )

This is the last resort, and it works all the time. Do this with a friend or anyone who cares about your success and will make sure you stick with your promise of either paying him or sticking with your workout session 🙂

What do you do to motivate yourself to exercise? Have anything you like to add? Let me know in the comments below!