How Do I Feel Motivated to Get Outside More?
Options
Replies
-
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
0 -
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
-
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
-
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.
2 -
Find a community pool to join or walk on a hiking trail. They usually are cooler0
-
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 -
0 -
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 -
Get a podcast or audio book! Or even an album you want to go through. Stick it on and give yourself a goal I.e this walk I'll get through 3 chapters etc. walk until you reach your goal and then walk back home
that's what I do! 1 -
Personally getting going is hard for me but once I'm there I love it. I drive to a city park and walk there. The calories I get for getting some exercise tend to motivate me. I may not eat them all but knowing they're there makes all the difference. I have lost 86 pounds and my moods have really improved from the exercise. There's something about living in a city of over a million people and seeing a doe and her two fawns in a local park that makes you want to do it. I lived here for 30 years and had no idea that was right outside my door. Set reasonable goals for yourself. Make it achievable.2
-
I love nature and it all it's scenic beauties -- thats enough to get me outside. However, Im an introverted guy and before I started my weight-loss journey I was the same way. Just didn't feel motivated. For me, part of the motivation came from the weight-loss itself. As I started losing more weight I found myself invigorated with more energy and in turn, drive.shinedowness wrote: »I have a hard time feeling motivated to go outside. Any tips on how to make being outside fun?
Things I never felt like doing I suddenly wanted to do. My favorite thing in the world to do is swim. If you like swimming, find water and swim! That will get you outside and swimming is great cardio at that!
0 -
I'm in South Carolina. This is our stay-inside season. To get a good walk in, go to a big-box store like Walmart or Home Depot and do a circuit or two of all the aisles. It's not outside but it's at least not in your own house.1
-
CattOfTheGarage wrote: »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.
Great advice and well-written.
Beautiful pic!
Thanks ... it is a hike we did near Jasper, Alberta. We took a sky tram to the upper terminal (little building sitting on the edge of the cliff) and then hiked to the top of the mountain. Breathtaking ... just stunning!! Well worth the effort! 1 -
OP, I am having a similar issue. I found out last year when I did Couch to 5K that I really enjoyed exercising outside. But last fall, I had a lot of vacation days so between those days and the weekends, I could get out in the early afternoon when it was actually NICE out.
Right now, the heat index is about 100 degrees, humidity is awful, I don't have any vacation days. My neighborhood doesn't have a *safe* walking area so I have to go to another neighborhood. This forces me to cross the road during rush hour. It all got so stressful, with the traffic and heat, that I totally lost my motivation for it. Trying to get it back...0 -
Get a podcast or audio book! Or even an album you want to go through. Stick it on and give yourself a goal I.e this walk I'll get through 3 chapters etc. walk until you reach your goal and then walk back home that's what I do!
Great suggestion!
I have FM radio on one of my MP3 players and listening to the news on NPR is usually good for getting my heart rate up.0 -
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...
I'm sorry to hear that it's the idea of encountering cruel people that's preventing you from getting out there. You deserve to be out there enjoying nature and the sunshine as much as anyone else.
0 -
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...
Get some mace from your local gun shop...they even have super cool mace that will turn the object of it purple and has something in it that shows up under a UV light for up to 48 hours, even if you shower. Take your mace and yourself for a walk in the woods or a local park. In over 12 years of hiking and traveling alone, I've only had one instance of encountering a "cruel person" in nature and my agility and ability to run faster than him made me the winner of that one.0 -
This does not compute...
Heading up to San Pedro Parks for a bit of camping and hiking this weekend with the fam...
Climbing is something we have come to enjoy quite a bit as well...we're taking our first trip outside of the climbing gym in a few weeks and I can't be more excited...
The Paseo Del Bosque trail is one of my favorite places to ride and it's just down the street from my house...
The La Luz trail is one of our favorite hikes...hike up, tram down...get beer...
Boring is sitting around at home doing nothing...3
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 392K Introduce Yourself
- 43.6K Getting Started
- 259.8K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.7K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 402 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.8K Motivation and Support
- 7.9K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.4K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 998 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.4K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions