10 ways to keep up your motivation
When your healthy activities fall by the wayside, maybe it’s not that there’s something lacking in your willpower or motivation…. Maybe you’re trying to focus too much on the result and not enough on the experience of the activity. Sometimes the activity needs to change or sometimes you just need to change what you’re focusing on. Either way, when the activity aligns with your essential self, chances are you’ll have no trouble finding motivation.
(That said, let’s also acknowledge that motivation will always ebb and flow - depending on the circumstances, time of day, season, etc. Be compassionate with yourself.)
Over the last few months, I’ve reignited my passion for rock climbing! I’m just playing around in an indoor climbing gym at this stage, but I recognize, I have this yearning to keep coming back. Here’s a list of qualities about rock climbing that keep me motivated and coming back… but I think they could also serve as a guide to finding whatever healthy activity you wish to keep up with:
10 components of an activity that motivates me to keep coming back:
Whole body engagement - challenging strength and flexibility in nuanced ways
Mental focus - It keeps my mind creatively working like playing chess or piecing together a puzzle
It’s a skill that can be developed with conscious practice
I can choose the level of difficulty - I can take it easy on some days or challenge myself on others - depending on how I feel.
There’s endless variety - this keeps me from getting bored or feeling stuck in a rut.
I can do it both indoors and out in nature.
It’s based in natural human movement - we evolved to do these particular movements and that ignites a sense of deeper meaning for me - like I’m engaging with primal instincts.
There’s a communal aspect to it - the people around embody a culture of encouragement no matter what your skill level.
The satisfaction of trying hard things: when I appreciate the achievements and overcoming the challenges of the activity, those feelings of appreciation and satisfaction boost my desire to keep engaging with the activity.
I like it and it brings me joy. Simple. No reasons needed. If I feel joy doing it, and if I know I like it, that’s enough reason to keep coming back.
Not everything we do has to check all these boxes. But the more of these components you can include, chances are you’ve found something to keep you healthy and motivated.