Exercise matters at any stage of life, but as we get older, it plays a bigger role in how we feel day to day. Staying active helps with balance, strength, and flexibility—things that make everyday tasks easier and reduce the risk of injury. It’s also one of the best ways to support heart health, boost your mood, and keep your mind sharp.
Even with all those benefits, staying motivated can still be a challenge. Energy levels shift, schedules fill up, and workouts can start to feel like a hassle. The good news is, there are simple ways to stay on track. Here are twelve tips to help you keep moving—without dreading it.
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Work Out with a Partner
Exercise becomes more enjoyable when sharing the experience with a friend or family member. Your partner can either perform their own workout routine or adopt yours. If you both follow the same workout routine, you can challenge each other, making things more interesting. Additionally, when you commit to showing up for the other person, it keeps you more accountable, too.
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Start Slowly and Gradually Increase
Many of us are highly motivated when we first start exercising. That’s great but getting in shape is a longer-term proposition. If we overexert ourselves early on, a resulting injury or burnout could deter us from continuing to exercise. Try to increase your endurance and stamina gradually by starting at a slower pace and then gradually increasing your speed. You might think this will slow down your progress, but in the long run, you’ll be more likely to stick with the program and reach your goals.
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Set Realistic Goals
Speaking of goals, there’s the idea of a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), but how reasonable is it? Our fitness goals should be sensible, considering our age, health status, and the amount of time we can dedicate to the effort. It’s okay to have a “stretch goal,” but it should be realistically within our ability, so when we achieve it, it adds to our further motivation. Another idea is to set a series of smaller goals that build toward something larger over time.
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Take a Break
There may be times when it’s best to take a break along the way. It doesn't mean you're giving up. Instead, it is a strategic rest period to give your mind and muscles a brief respite before continuing your exercise journey.
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Make It Fun
An instant motivation killer is to feel like exercise is a dreadful but necessary slog. Look for ways to make your workouts enjoyable by incorporating activities you like. For example, if you dislike running, consider a dance exercise class. If you get bored with lap swimming, look into water aerobics. Another idea is to vary your workout routine. Avoid doing the same set of exercises each time. Mix it up so you don’t feel like you are falling into a dispiriting rut.
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Reward Yourself
Look for ways to reward yourself for sticking with your routine. For example, if you complete seven consecutive days of workouts, treat yourself to a nice lunch or buy something special. The reward can be anything you like, but be cautious of treats that work against your goals. For instance, a large ice cream sundae might seem like a great reward, but would it negate the calories you just burned off at the gym?
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Maintain A Positive Outlook
Cultivating a positive mindset will help you stay motivated. An “attitude of gratitude” in which you appreciate the small steps forward will help to keep your spirits up. Perfectionism is your enemy. Accepting that there may be some setbacks along the way can help you persevere and stay on track toward your goals.
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Remember Why You Started
From time to time, you may feel a lack of motivation. That’s okay! Rather than giving up, think about your initial goals. Are they still valid? Perhaps recalibration of those goals will rev up your energy. Doing a “reset” may help you break out of the doldrums and get back into the swing of things.
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Find Success Stories
Finding success stories of people like yourself can provide a big motivational boost. When people tell their stories, it can make you start to believe in yourself. Thinking that "if they can do it, so can I” is energizing and can help you move faster down the road to success.
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Surround Yourself with Motivational Quotes
It’s remarkable how just the right turn of phrase can resonate within you and turn a sour attitude around. It’s easy to find motivational quotes online. Hang them on your room walls and even write some quotes on a piece of paper to stick on your fridge. Place motivational quotes throughout the house and read them daily. When you see and read these quotes repeatedly, every day, your mind trains you to prepare for the things you have been trying to avoid.
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Listen To Music or Audiobooks
Studies have shown that music and audiobooks are effective ways to boost your morale while working out. Music that inspires you can distract you from feelings of boredom or drudgery. Audiobooks can be motivational stories or just engaging content that helps you think about something other than the unpleasant feelings often associated with exercising.
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Hire a Coach
Ultimately, many individuals discover that working with a fitness coach or professional trainer kicks their exercise motivation into high gear. One reason is being held accountable by another person. Another benefit is that you have more confidence that you are doing the right workouts to meet your goals. One downside of this option is the cost, but many find that the value gained is well worth the expense.
Staying motivated to exercise takes some trial and error. Some days it’ll come easily, other days you’ll have to push through a bit more. That’s part of the deal. What helps is finding routines and tricks that actually work for you—things that make movement feel more doable and less like a chore. You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Start with one or two changes, build from there, and give yourself credit for showing up.
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