Have you ever thought about what motivates you to exercise? I mean what makes you want to hit the gym floor for a smashing workout? The promise of results (losing 10 kg), external rewards (a new dress!), enjoyment (it is just fun!), or a person (my doctor told me to)? Motivation is defined as “a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.” Simply put, it is what drives us to move forward or to keep going when things get tough. Do you know what motivates you to exercise?
There are two types of motivation: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic motivation focuses on external factors such as results, rewards, or other people. Many people will say that getting results motivate them. And while I agree that results are powerful motivators, I also believe that they are short-lived factors. Before you give up reading, let me explain. Let’s say you want to shed a few kilos. What will happen after you accomplish it? Or even worse, what will happen if you can’t quite get there for any reason? Won’t you feel demotivated? My point is you need something for the long run, a motivator that is so powerful it will be with you no matter the circumstances. Something no one can take it from you. That is called intrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic motivation is an inner force that drives you to act without external rewards. You do it simply because you enjoy the process of doing it. The activity in itself gives you satisfaction and pleasure. You see it as an opportunity (to learn, to grow, to practice) rather than an obligation. Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi defines completely focused motivation as “the flow,” a mental state in which the person is fully immersed in the task at hand. It’s said that people in the flow experience a feeling of spontaneous joy.
I don’t know about you, but I definitely want to experience such feeling. So, how can you find your inner drive? Experts say that the following factors contribute to increase intrinsic motivation: challenge, curiosity, control, cooperation or competition, and recognition. I would say that since everyone is different, you need to dig deep into your feelings in order to discover what rings your bells. The goal is to find activities that put you in “the zone” – that place where time seems to fly and the activity seems effortless. I know you must be thinking that I am crazy and you will never be able to find an exercise modality that is effortless. However, think of when you go out with friends. You may dance the whole night (in heels!) and don’t even notice the tiredness. So yes, it is possible.
My advice is: try as many modalities you need until you find something that speaks to you. Think outside the box. Go for activities that seem interesting rather than activities that burn more calories. Remember that if you enjoy an activity, you’ll be more likely to perform it for longer and more often. Find an enjoyable activity that offers you a “me time” and you will want to do it no matter how stressed you are or how bad your day was. And yes, maybe you will try something and realize that it is not for you. That’s ok. Just move on to another activity. And keep in mind that if you never try, you will never know.
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Carla Torres is an AIF Master Trainer based in Rhodes, NSW. Her mission is to promote exercise, proper nutrition and healthy habits as a way to empower individuals to make decisions leading to better quality of life.