Share your motivation tips

[Ciara DUK]

Hello!

I'm a new staff member of DUK, working as a Supporter Care Advisor. I'm really looking forward to getting to talk with you all, and help with responses.

I am building up my stamina and fitness to run 5km without stopping! Some days are easy, and others not.

Does anyone have advice for motivating yourself to exercise? 🙂

 

[nonethewiser]

Fresh air & great outdoors, plus desire to live as long as possible whilst still being able to.

 

[Spathiphyllum]

Hello!

I'm a new staff member of DUK, working as a Supporter Care Advisor. I'm really looking forward to getting to talk with you all, and help with responses.

I am building up my stamina and fitness to run 5km without stopping! Some days are easy, and others not.

Does anyone have advice for motivating yourself to exercise? 🙂

Get the best gear you can afford-- by which I mean first of all most comfortable and lightweight and breathable, and then if possible also things you like the look of.

You will doubtless already know you need good shoes; and you need to get them from a good running shop, with someone who will properly check their fit and suitability for your gait. And you need a good running bra, even if you're not very 'well endowed'-- one that keeps you held tight and is comfortable and isn't sweaty!

After that, good running leggings. When I started out, I was embarrassed about the idea of wearing running tights; I'd think 'so far I can only jog for 60 seconds! I can't wear these-- I can't pretend to be a runner!' But they are so much more comfortable to run in. (And black leggings, and especially compression leggings, flatter all sorts of legs!)

After that, a lightweight windproof and water-resistant running jacket. I got a little Ronhill Core jacket, and couldn't believe what a difference it made; light as a feather, yet warm, and if I get too warm I can easily take it off, while still jogging, and just tie it around my waist. And I really like the colour of mine; it cheers me up.

The point is: if you get gear you feel comfortable in, and you like how they feel, and you like the colours-- then, even if you feel quite unmotivated before you put them on, once you've got them on you will feel far more ready to go.

All part of the psychology! Changing your identity. Thinking 'I am a runner'. Or at least 'I am a jogger'. Or, in my case, 'I'm a pretty lousy jogger, but I am a jogger nonetheless'. ; )

Well done for taking up the challenge, and all best wishes; keep us posted on how you get on!

 

[Satan’s little helper]

Hello!

I'm a new staff member of DUK, working as a Supporter Care Advisor. I'm really looking forward to getting to talk with you all, and help with responses.

I am building up my stamina and fitness to run 5km without stopping! Some days are easy, and others not.

Does anyone have advice for motivating yourself to exercise? 🙂

Hello,

Sport has never been my “thing.” Most “sport” to my mind has been based on the prowess in the field of either warfare or hunting?

However. There can be exercise found in being a proactive team member there is some hard graft & challenges out there, (in the work place.) in order to keep a roof over colleagues heads. (Team players.) As well as my own. (A form of hunting.)

Best wishes in your new role.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Fresh air & great outdoors, plus desire to live as long as possible whilst still being able to.

This! Plus the more you do it the more you get addicted to it 🙂

 

[Ciara DUK]

Get the best gear you can afford-- by which I mean first of all most comfortable and lightweight and breathable, and then if possible also things you like the look of.

You will doubtless already know you need good shoes; and you need to get them from a good running shop, with someone who will properly check their fit and suitability for your gait. And you need a good running bra, even if you're not very 'well endowed'-- one that keeps you held tight and is comfortable and isn't sweaty!

After that, good running leggings. When I started out, I was embarrassed about the idea of wearing running tights; I'd think 'so far I can only jog for 60 seconds! I can't wear these-- I can't pretend to be a runner!' But they are so much more comfortable to run in. (And black leggings, and especially compression leggings, flatter all sorts of legs!)

After that, a lightweight windproof and water-resistant running jacket. I got a little Ronhill Core jacket, and couldn't believe what a difference it made; light as a feather, yet warm, and if I get too warm I can easily take it off, while still jogging, and just tie it around my waist. And I really like the colour of mine; it cheers me up.

The point is: if you get gear you feel comfortable in, and you like how they feel, and you like the colours-- then, even if you feel quite unmotivated before you put them on, once you've got them on you will feel far more ready to go.

All part of the psychology! Changing your identity. Thinking 'I am a runner'. Or at least 'I am a jogger'. Or, in my case, 'I'm a pretty lousy jogger, but I am a jogger nonetheless'. ; )

Well done for taking up the challenge, and all best wishes; keep us posted on how you get on!

Wow - thanks so much for all the great advice!!

It's really interesting to hear all your tips, especially as until now my go-to has been wearing gear that, whilst comfortable, could definitely be tweaked a bit to be more personal to me...

I love the 'jogger nonetheless' mindset you have, will definitely remember this one for future! 🙂

 

[Ciara DUK]

Fresh air & great outdoors, plus desire to live as long as possible whilst still being able to.

This is such a lovely way of thinking thanks for sharing! I do love running outdoors when I can, will confess perhaps running indoors on a little trampoline/trampette might be part of the problem...

 

[helli]

My motivation is often treats which I earn. This does not have to be food. I reward myself with a viewing of my favourite series, for example.
I also aim to run somewhere I want/need to go. For example, I will run to a beautiful garden (want) or to my hospital appointment (need). This incorporates exercise into my life rather than something as well or instead of.
Finally, I find it is easier to motivate myself if I have an exercise partner. It is easier to tell myself I can't be bothered than to tell a friend.

 

[zuludog]

I used to do a lot of hiking, though I've slowed down now I'm older and can no longer do long, hard hillwalking
But I still do some walking, even in a town you can find hidden footpaths, back lanes, and interesting old buildings

About a year ago I started doing Tai Chi, which is a martial art, but not as aggressive as things like judo or karate, it is more to do with stretching, suppleness, and balance, yet at the end of a session I definitely feel as though I've done some exercise; there are loads of YouTube videos
There is also a mental/meditation aspect to it, so it provides the motivation to do other exercise and stick to your diet, and gets you out for a walk even if its raining
So I would think it's similar to yoga in these respects, though I've never done that

You could give yourself a target or a tick list - during The Lockdown a friend walked along every street, road, lane, & footpath in a 5 mile radius of his house

@Ciara DUK - if you work for DUK does that mean you live in London?
I know that London has loads of urban footpaths, including The London LOOP - there's a ready made tick list & motivation for you!
If you like running outdoors, you could work towards orienteering & fell running?

 

[Satan’s little helper]

I used to do a lot of hiking, though I've slowed down now I'm older and can no longer do long, hard hillwalking
But I still do some walking, even in a town you can find hidden footpaths, back lanes, and interesting old buildings

About a year ago I started doing Tai Chi, which is a martial art, but not as aggressive as things like judo or karate, it is more to do with stretching, suppleness, and balance, yet at the end of a session I definitely feel as though I've done some exercise; there are loads of YouTube videos
There is also a mental/meditation aspect to it, so it provides the motivation to do other exercise and stick to your diet, and gets you out for a walk even if its raining
So I would think it's similar to yoga in these respects, though I've never done that

You could give yourself a target or a tick list - during The Lockdown a friend walked along every street, road, lane, & footpath in a 5 mile radius of his house

@Ciara DUK - if you work for DUK does that mean you live in London?
I know that London has loads of urban footpaths, including The London LOOP but there are others - there's a ready made tick list & motivation for you!
If you like running outdoors, you could work towards orienteering & fell running?

Hello,

Form what I see from Tai chi.it’s a little like dance choreography? I spent my youth training dance. Not realy any good at it. Took another direction. However, the discipline regarding “muscular memory” at work with what I do. Comes in handy.

 

[zuludog]

Hello,

Form what I see from Tai chi.it’s a little like dance choreography? I spent my youth training dance. Not realy any good at it. Took another direction. However, the discipline regarding “muscular memory” at work with what I do. Comes in handy.

Yes, I hadn't thought about it till now, but dance and muscle memory are relevant to Tai Chi

Tai Chi is made up from a series of short standardised movements called Forms that you join together into a longer sequence also called a Form - that's why you sometimes hear of people 'doing their Form'.
Start with a few simple movements and progress to more, and more complex movements; they have rather quaint names derived from the original Chinese
Unlike many sports the idea is not to work through the process or form as quickly as possible, instead you slow down and really concentrate on each move; that's why Tai Chi has been described as 'standing meditation'.

As a beginner you tend to do the individual movements separately, but the aim and satisfaction of Tai Chi is to join them up to make a long, flowing, graceful Form, which is easier said than done
Watch YouTube, there are loads of videos; here's a nice example

 

[Ciara DUK]

I used to do a lot of hiking, though I've slowed down now I'm older and can no longer do long, hard hillwalking
But I still do some walking, even in a town you can find hidden footpaths, back lanes, and interesting old buildings

About a year ago I started doing Tai Chi, which is a martial art, but not as aggressive as things like judo or karate, it is more to do with stretching, suppleness, and balance, yet at the end of a session I definitely feel as though I've done some exercise; there are loads of YouTube videos
There is also a mental/meditation aspect to it, so it provides the motivation to do other exercise and stick to your diet, and gets you out for a walk even if its raining
So I would think it's similar to yoga in these respects, though I've never done that

You could give yourself a target or a tick list - during The Lockdown a friend walked along every street, road, lane, & footpath in a 5 mile radius of his house

@Ciara DUK - if you work for DUK does that mean you live in London?
I know that London has loads of urban footpaths, including The London LOOP - there's a ready made tick list & motivation for you!
If you like running outdoors, you could work towards orienteering & fell running?

Hey, thanks for your reply - it's so true! I love all the sometimes hidden history and things like overgrown railway lines...often times the more you look, the more you find, as you say.

I hadn't heard of the London LOOP :O That's such a good suggestion - I'll definitely check it out! Had also never heard of 'fell running' - how intriguing!

Really glad to hear Tai Chi has been helpful for you, I know my balance could use some work so I may well have a look at some moves 😉

 

[zuludog]

Hey, thanks for your reply - it's so true! I love all the sometimes hidden history and things like overgrown railway lines...often times the more you look, the more you find, as you say.

I hadn't heard of the London LOOP :O That's such a good suggestion - I'll definitely check it out! Had also never heard of 'fell running' - how intriguing!

Really glad to hear Tai Chi has been helpful for you, I know my balance could use some work so I may well have a look at some moves 😉

There are references & videos to the London Outer Orbital Path, a sort of M25 for walkers, on the Net & YouTube, and from then on there are links & suggestions for other urban routes

There are videos & Facebook groups for abandoned roads, buildings etc, etc
Also Search for fell running

Tai Chi is good for suppleness but I don't think it's vigorous enough on its own for absolute fitness or weight loss, but what it does do is it gets yer 'ead sorted so you can concentrate on diet, cutting out junk food, booze, and doing other exercise

 

[zuludog]

Hey, thanks for your reply - it's so true! I love all the sometimes hidden history and things like overgrown railway lines...often times the more you look, the more you find, as you say.

I hadn't heard of the London LOOP :O That's such a good suggestion - I'll definitely check it out! Had also never heard of 'fell running' - how intriguing!

Really glad to hear Tai Chi has been helpful for you, I know my balance could use some work so I may well have a look at some mo

I've just had a quick search of YouTube and it would appear that London Loop is also the name of a computer game, but it should be easy enough to distinguish that from a proper walking route.....

Search around on t'Net & YouTube for things like walking routes & footpaths in London, fell running, orienteering, marathons, mountain marathons, cross country running and you'll find all sorts of references & variations, and find things you fancy doing - have fun!

There must be Tai Chi classes somewhere in London