How to nail your fitness goals

If you’re putting yourself under pressure to exercise more and train harder, you might need to rethink your mindset.

When it comes to getting the maximum benefit from exercise, most of us consider a good mindset equally as important as physical abilities. Yet, chances are we spend plenty of time chasing physical fitness gains and nowhere near as much working on getting our mindset in good shape.

3 steps to create positive, enjoyable life-long exercise habits

1. Accept where you’re at. Don’t compare yourself to others. Yes, you can look to others for motivation and inspiration, but remember they could be at day 100 and you’re just at day one.
2. If you think you don’t like exercise, that’s okay, but lean into that thought and feeling. And start exploring what you might enjoy. Try a new class, go for a swim, or even bring a friend to try out racket sports.
3. If you really can’t find something you enjoy, think about it in different terms. Can you find a type of movement that you like? You don’t necessarily need to love it. Often we do things that don’t bring us immediate enjoyment, like cleaning the house, but in the end, we stand back and think, ‘Wow, I’m glad that’s done’. For some of us, exercise is one of the most enjoyable and meaningful parts of our lives. But if it’s not, then try and think about how you can tie exercise habits into meaningful parts of your life. Perhaps it’s being active while spending time with family or as a source of social connection with friends. Exercise could be a source of ‘me-time’ or a means of feeling competent. Finding what gives movement meaning and value in your life promotes a lifelong relationship with exercise.

This piece originally appeared at lesmills.com.