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Stay Motivated While You Walk
Posted on Dec 31st 2009 6:00PM by Karen AspNo doubt you're going to have days when you just don't feel like walking. Don't get upset -- even seasoned athletes have those days. Yet rather than skipping your walk, find ways to motivate yourself. Here are six easy things you can do to rev that enthusiasm:
1. Shoot for 10: If you don't feel like doing the entire walk, commit to doing only 10 minutes. Of course, 10 minutes is better than nothing, but here's the trick: You'll no doubt feel so good after those 10 minutes that you'll want to keep going.
2. Walk to the beat: Studies show that music can help you exercise longer. So make a playlist of your favorite songs and listen to it as you walk.
3. Buddy up: Ask a friend to walk with you, and time will fly. Just don't forget to challenge yourself as you walk.
4. Take a new route: If you're walking outside and have been walking the same route over and over, it's time to give that mind some mental stimulation. So find a new route to walk. Even if you just reverse the route you've been walking, you'll feel like you're doing a different walk, which could boost your enthusiasm that day.
5. Change the environment: If you're walking on a treadmill, you can't exactly change your route, but you can change your surroundings. Hang a different picture on the wall, turn your treadmill around to face another direction or paint your workout room a different color.
6. Keep a log: Tracking your progress is one of the best ways to stick with a plan. Yet rather than just writing down how much walking you're doing, write down how you feel before and after you walk. Review this frequently, and you'll soon realize that you're getting immediate benefits from exercise.
1. Shoot for 10: If you don't feel like doing the entire walk, commit to doing only 10 minutes. Of course, 10 minutes is better than nothing, but here's the trick: You'll no doubt feel so good after those 10 minutes that you'll want to keep going.
2. Walk to the beat: Studies show that music can help you exercise longer. So make a playlist of your favorite songs and listen to it as you walk.
3. Buddy up: Ask a friend to walk with you, and time will fly. Just don't forget to challenge yourself as you walk.
4. Take a new route: If you're walking outside and have been walking the same route over and over, it's time to give that mind some mental stimulation. So find a new route to walk. Even if you just reverse the route you've been walking, you'll feel like you're doing a different walk, which could boost your enthusiasm that day.
5. Change the environment: If you're walking on a treadmill, you can't exactly change your route, but you can change your surroundings. Hang a different picture on the wall, turn your treadmill around to face another direction or paint your workout room a different color.
6. Keep a log: Tracking your progress is one of the best ways to stick with a plan. Yet rather than just writing down how much walking you're doing, write down how you feel before and after you walk. Review this frequently, and you'll soon realize that you're getting immediate benefits from exercise.
