Being Motivated To Exercise While Feeling Bad

According to experts, exercising helps treat depression, but unfortunately, exercising regularly is one of the hardest jobs in the world for most of us.  Especially when you're feeling bad!

Experts are right, a regular exercise routine is really helpful in treating depression.  Exercising helps you sleep better, improves your general health and makes you more confident.  Moreover, it causes you to release endorphins, which are hormones that make you happy.

If you're feeling down and don't know what to do to start a regular exercise program, here are some suggestions:

Start small

It is very difficult to start a heavy exercise program while it is difficult to get out of bed.  Even asking whether to run 10 km or stay in bed is pointless.

Don't be too demanding.  Start your schedule with baby steps, little by little.  Instead of trying to run a marathon, aim for a 20-minute jog or walk, a quiet Pilates or Yoga class instead of attending a fast-paced class.

Starting with a simple program, achieving small successes will give you confidence, excitement and momentum for next steps.

Be realistic

You are not a racing car, you can go from 0 to 100 km in seconds!  If you have not set a realistic goal, it will not be helpful to start with small steps.  Remember, if you set unrealistic goals, the more likely you are to fail.  And let's admit, you need success right now!

To set your goals, think about how you would like to look physically or have achieved a few months from now.  Act realistically.  Aim to run / walk 5km rather than 10km or exercise every other day rather than every day.

Remember that you are trying to improve not only physically but also mentally, and it's really hard.  So set yourself achievable goals.

Choose an exercise you really like very much

Don't make things more difficult by choosing an exercise method you don't like for yourself.  Do you hate running?  No matter, then try an activity you love instead of running.

The thing is, it's hard to be motivated to exercise when you're already depressed or feeling down, so choose an activity that doesn't feel like you're exercising!  You don't necessarily have to choose the Olympic branches to do sports.  Choose whatever feels good, be it tennis, dance, Pilates or Yoga.

If you make a mistake, don't hurt yourself

You will get stuck on the road, very normal, please do not beat yourself up.  There's nothing more normal than missing a lesson or being out of breath at the 3rd km.  You may feel bad, yes, but please be compassionate to yourself.

Instead of getting stuck with this, do not waste the effort and effort you have spent so far and try again.  Aim to succeed next time.  Exercise will become easier over time, albeit slowly.

Reward yourself

Promise yourself lots of rewards along the way, not just when you arrive at your destination.  Maybe you can get yourself a small gift at the end of each successful week.

What the prize will be is entirely up to you!  Pick yourself really stimulating rewards so they work or you start to drift away from the target.

Build yourself a support mechanism

You are not alone in this business.  You can call for help from family and friends for support.  Perhaps one of them will want to start Pilates or a walk with you.

Or you can ask your friends to check on you from time to time.  Just make sure they understand that the program you are trying to implement is not only physical, but also has a mental side.  Choose friends who will celebrate your achievements, not friends who will beat you up when you are late in achieving your goals.

 Exercising is really important to overcome depression and start feeling good.  Following the above suggestions will help you live a more active life.