Lacking Motivation to Exercise?

Now that the most wonderful time of the year is over, my motivation to exercise seems to have gotten boxed up with the Christmas decorations. Getting to the gym has really felt like an uphill battle this week. Know the feeling?

We’ve all just had an incredibly busy time of year. You’ve probably been baking, cooking, shopping, wrapping, and perhaps entertaining, all on top of an already packed schedule. You may have slipped in some extra holiday indulgences, and with the family’s entire schedule thrown on its ear, you’re now dealing with cranky kids who won’t go to bed at night or get up in the morning. They don’t want to get back to school, they don’t want to do their chores, and they don’t know where to put all of their newly acquired clutter.

By the time you finish motivating your kids to get their chores and homework done, you may not have enough motivation left for yourself. So, how do you keep from slipping into winter hibernation with all of these factors working against you? What if you could combine some of these challenges for a win-win?

Check out these tips, and feel free to add some of your own in the comments below.

1. Exercise for Fun

What exercise do you and your kids enjoy doing together? Make a list of physical activity your family enjoys. It might even be as simple as jumping on the trampoline together or playing XBox Kinect or the Wii. Perhaps your kids like to go bike riding or rollerblading. How about a game of touch football? If you’re not sure what your family would like, ask them! Instead of trying to add exercise onto an already overwhelming schedule, consider using your family time to engage in fun, physical activities that you can all enjoy together.

But it’s cold outside!

All the better. Exercising in the cold can actually increase the amount of fat you burn, because your body is not only exercising, but also working to keep itself warm. Make sure to dress in layers, so you can peel down as you warm up.

2. Get Accountability from Your Kids

Our local rec. center has an indoor pool, and my kids absolutely love to swim, so to hold myself accountable, I promise to take them swimming right after I exercise. Because they really want to swim, they make sure I get to the gym so they can have their fun. What if your kids don’t want to swim (or you don’t have access to a pool)? Offer them some other benefits, such as a few extra minutes playing video games or participating in an activity they love if you make your goal of going to the gym. Kids can provide surprisingly effective accountability if they’re motivated!

3. Keep It In Order

If you’ve provided ample motivation for your kids to want to get out the door, set some goals for them to meet before you can go. Use this as an opportunity to accomplish those tasks you constantly have to harp on your kids to finish. If their chores are done by a certain time, then exercise and swimming (or whatever activities you’ve chosen) will happen. If not, they’ll have to stay home and finish. This can get frustrating for you if you really want to go, because sometimes, they might not finish and you might miss going. However, sticking to the same plan consistently, and providing activities your kids really want to do, should increase their motivation. When this happens, it’s a huge win for you. The chores get done, you get to exercise, and your family gets some quality time together.

Getting your kids to work with you instead of against you is an incredibly valuable process, but don’t forget that it is just that: a process. Some days will go better than others. As I look around my living room today, I can see we’re going to need some extra motivation to get this place back in order and my feet back at the gym. I think I’ll propose some swimming this evening…