How Do I Feel Motivated to Get Outside More?
shinedowness
Posts: 19 Member
I have a hard time feeling motivated to go outside. Any tips on how to make being outside fun?
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Sunshine, fresh air, nature? They are my big motivators to move my workouts outside0
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If your a guy, tell Ava adams to stand outside ur window in a swimsuit, and if ur a girl tell Channing Tatum to strip in front of ur window.2
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Find something you enjoy doing outside. Then do that.4
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Turn on cable news. That'll send you screaming to get outside.13
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Is it summer where you are? If so, long walks are the easiest answer. Sometimes I drive over to a conservation area, sometimes I just walk around the neighbourhood. I also cycle, play tennis and occasionally get out on the water (kayak or SUP).
If it happens to be winter where you are, you're on your own. It's always a goal for me to get outside more in winter but I'm never successful.0 -
It's ridiculously hot and humid right now where I am, so I find it very hard to get motivated to be outside in 100 degree temperatures with 76% humidity. (Plus the mosquitoes.) In general, I loooove to be outside, but July where I live is hard to love. If it's like that where you are, maybe swimming or other water activities? When we go out for walks I love it when we walk past a house that is watering their lawn. We usually stand in the sprinklers for 5 minutes or so which makes the rest of the walk more bearable.3
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If you are having trouble with summer heat, go out early or late in the afternoon when the shadows are long. Go to the forests or parks where it's green and cool. Walk at night when the stars and moon are bright. Join a group that is going for a hike, or find a lake and go for a swim. Riding a bike is cooler than walking or running when it's hot. Find a Park, rail trail or canal towpath where you can ride safely.0
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shinedowness wrote: »I have a hard time feeling motivated to go outside. Any tips on how to make being outside fun?
I often have a hard time being motivated to start, but once I've begun, I'm fine. So I force myself to get out there.
There are lots of things I enjoy, and they vary with the seasons. Right now it's fresh water swimming. Earlier, it was gardening. Before that, walking, and before that, snow shoeing.
I really didn't feel like swimming yesterday, but it was my one chance in a week to do it, so I gave myself permission to stop in 10 minutes if I wanted to, but ended up swimming for 30 and am glad I did.1 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »Turn on cable news. That'll send you screaming to get outside.
This.0 -
shinedowness wrote: »I have a hard time feeling motivated to go outside. Any tips on how to make being outside fun?
I'm sorry, I don't understand the question.
Every time I catch a glimpse of the outside, I want to be out there. It's probably a good thing I don't get much of a view of the outside from my office.
I love walking, hiking, cycling, splashing in the water at the beach, canoeing, skiing, snowshoeing, wandering around and taking photos of things ... even just being out there.
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Joining a group can be helpful. i joined a walking and cycling group and it motivates me to get out in a way that doing it alone doesn't.0
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Nature looks somewhat boring to me. I only like swimming by myself, walking in an environment that doesn't look like it's been tainted by humanity's industries, houses, etc., and I only like walking by myself in nature. But, there are cruel people out there. So, I feel cynical...0
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shinedowness wrote: »Nature looks somewhat boring to me. I only like swimming by myself, walking in an environment that doesn't look like it's been tainted by humanity's industries, houses, etc., and I only like walking by myself in nature. But, there are cruel people out there. So, I feel cynical...
You are over thinking this. Don't hang about waiting for motivation or thinking dark thoughts about the human condition. Just get out. Once you have built up a habit you may enjoy it more, and even if not, it's good for you.0 -
Sometimes when weather isn't great there are things I have to do anyway. Walk the dog twice a day - lovely when weather good , but have to do when wet.
I have 'rules' -for example I don't drive to local shop to get newspaper.
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CattOfTheGarage wrote: »shinedowness wrote: »Nature looks somewhat boring to me. I only like swimming by myself, walking in an environment that doesn't look like it's been tainted by humanity's industries, houses, etc., and I only like walking by myself in nature. But, there are cruel people out there. So, I feel cynical...
You are over thinking this. Don't hang about waiting for motivation or thinking dark thoughts about the human condition. Just get out. Once you have built up a habit you may enjoy it more, and even if not, it's good for you.
Overthinking how?0 -
shinedowness wrote: »CattOfTheGarage wrote: »shinedowness wrote: »Nature looks somewhat boring to me. I only like swimming by myself, walking in an environment that doesn't look like it's been tainted by humanity's industries, houses, etc., and I only like walking by myself in nature. But, there are cruel people out there. So, I feel cynical...
You are over thinking this. Don't hang about waiting for motivation or thinking dark thoughts about the human condition. Just get out. Once you have built up a habit you may enjoy it more, and even if not, it's good for you.
Overthinking how?
Thinking about how you prefer to walk in only pristine environments, thinking about how cruel people are, thinking about how humanity is ruining things, thinking about how boring nature is - even thinking about how unmotivated you are. All of this is unnecessary and will further discourage you.
If you sit around waiting for conditions to be perfect or waiting to feel 'motivated', you'll never do it. If going outside is something you want to include in your exercise, there are three steps:
1. Put your shoes on
2. Open the door
3. Go out
We all feel unmotivated sometimes to do what we ultimately want to do. The secret is not to sit and try to conjure motivation. The secret is to make yourself do it. If you do, you might just find yourself enjoying it.9 -
There's no rule that you have to go outside. There's lots of great benefits (sunshine, fresh air and openess) but if weight loss and exercise is your goal, being outside doesn't mean you're going to reach it.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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There's no rule that you have to go outside. There's lots of great benefits (sunshine, fresh air and openess) but if weight loss and exercise is your goal, being outside doesn't mean you're going to reach it.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
This is also true0 -
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I put exercise on my calendar. I do the stuff on my calendar but often need that incentive to get up and moving even if I have fun once I start.0
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So much of this. I hate exercising #noshame #mentallyfat but nature makes it all worth it. I wouldn't jog on a treadmill if you put a gun to my head but I'd happily struggle-hike mountains.2 -
yeah....Very few truely enjoy stuff like long walks around a city. Especially from this side of it, Trick is to get out force self to do it and get addicted to the feeling of how damn good it feels from the other side of it. Every little step helps. I got addicted to the delicious calories of long walks and have found a few spots i like to walk in. I always had to set mini errands, Like a walk to the far grocery store for a carton of cherry tomatoes, Or a dollar store for nail polish when i started. Felt stupid and unmotivating to go out without a plan. Now i have a fitbit and my plan is just go for more steps, Gets addicting beating yesterday distance
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Perhaps you just aren't an outdoors person. To me, the outdoors is where all the fun stuff is, but I don't think you can motivate yourself to see it that way.0
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I don't think you really get motivated, you just decide and then go do it. I think "motivation" is often excuse in disguise.2
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Get a dog! Okay, only if you have time and money and a home for the dog. But for my household this worked (note we didnt get the dog to force us to go outside it just worked out that way) yesterday was a perfect example, I was exhausted after a long day at work, I just wanted to lay on the couch, we have a dog who was bred for herding so she needs alot of exercise, she just laid by the door staring at us, to make a long story short I was guilted into it and 5 miles later we were home after a long walk (in the rain!) and everyone was happy and exercised. For me it makes it more enjoyable to go outside, especially hiking on the weekends its always fun and I know im doing something good for her, and for me.
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Find a community pool to join or walk on a hiking trail. They usually are cooler0
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shinedowness wrote: »Nature looks somewhat boring to me. I only like swimming by myself, walking in an environment that doesn't look like it's been tainted by humanity's industries, houses, etc., and I only like walking by myself in nature. But, there are cruel people out there. So, I feel cynical...
Go exploring and find this, you won't thinking about all the negatives you possibly can. If you truly have agoraphobia, then you need to seek help for this...outside is way better than in, you can make the outside stuff your meditation on the positive then. Change, go forward, step out, motivation is the key to motivation...0 -
Do you live in an area where you can walk or bike to something? Work, school, the grocery store, the public library, even a coffee shop? I realize not all areas are built with proper sidewalks (I have a whole different rant on that subject), but if yours happens to be, then having a destination might help.
It sure helps me. I'm lucky enough to be able to walk 30 minutes to work, and that has made walking a habit because it is built into my day. I have to get to work somehow, after all. Even if I'm not feeling inspired or excited about taking a walk that day, I can just focus on the goal of getting to and from work.0 -
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shinedowness wrote: »Nature looks somewhat boring to me. I only like swimming by myself, walking in an environment that doesn't look like it's been tainted by humanity's industries, houses, etc., and I only like walking by myself in nature. But, there are cruel people out there. So, I feel cynical...
Do you have safety concerns? I don't feel unsafe when I walk in the woods alone, but I do carry a phone and pepper spray.
In my state we can get "animal defense spray" without a permit. Amazon won't ship it to me anymore (I replace it periodically), but the local gun store sold it to me.0
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