Sports are gaining in popularity every single day. Many people have tried eating healthily, getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and exercising.
It is impossible to deny the beneficial effects of sports on the physical and mental state of the body. The World Health Organization defines a state of health as follows: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Research also shows that sports contribute not only to physical development but also to emotional balance, happiness, and well-being.
But how do you instill in yourself a love of sports? How to form the right attitude to physical activity, which would contribute to the achievement of results and getting positive emotions from classes? Where does that very motivation come from that gives strength over time to still fall in love with sports? Let's figure it out.
If you have tried to do something radically new at least once in your life, then you know for sure: it is always difficult to start any activity. It's a big journey, and it doesn't just involve motivation and creativity. You cannot be enthusiastic every day for a long time, because it is unrealistic. You will have to struggle with routine, fatigue, the desire to give up everything, sometimes with a lack of progress. And so in everything. Sports are no exception. Why is it so hard to get started?
The human power of the subconscious is so great and sometimes so strongly influences us that it is not possible to ignore it. If we want to start doing something that we have not done before, then often we feel fear.
And many only cultivate it, aggravating the situation with destructive attitudes: "I won't be able to practice regularly", "I won't be able to achieve the body of my dreams", "I couldn't get it before, so it won't work out now either", "I am naturally not ready to physical activities "," I have bad genetics "and so on.
Of course, lying on the couch scrolling through social media is easier than work out: it gives us pleasure here and now, and much faster than going to the gym. You say to yourself that you will go to the gym tomorrow, on Monday, from the new year - why should you start now? Better from scratch! But these are just excuses that will not help you achieve your goal in any way.
Perhaps you just do not enjoy the learning process. In this case, postponing until later says that you need to change the focus of your actions or find something that would bring a thrill to you. Getting out of your comfort zone is good advice, but definitely not to get yourself into good habits. If you are really uncomfortable, then think about what you can replace the selected activity with. Otherwise, you will not only be left without motivation but completely deprive yourself of the desire to try again.
Now we want to tell you about hormones - what drives our decisions, moods, and behaviors. Hormones work the same for everyone: reading a book and playing sports, but since this article is about exercise, the story will go from that point of view. Just know that this information holds in other areas of life as well.
Sports need motivation: Even if you've been training regularly for many years, you'll still need the motivation to get off the couch and go to the gym. Human motivation is driven by dopamine. The higher the dopamine level, the higher the desire to do something. When you are done, your body releases a new dose of dopamine. It turns out a vicious circle of motivation: one drives the other, and you are constantly developing. This is the perfect alignment of events, or how evolution has done everything. But the human found himself cheap dopamine.
Cheap dopamine is a term that refers to the benefits of the information society such as television and the Internet. They capture a person's interest and give him the drive by which dopamine is produced. The result in computer matters comes to a person much faster than the achievements he can get in real life. After each level in a computer game, the body releases a small dose of dopamine. This drives the person, and he continues to play. He has serious things to do that will lead him to his dream. But there is no motivation to do them because the body will get dopamine from the game faster than from several years of intensive training. That is why procrastination appears: when a person realizes that he needs to do something, but for some reason, he does not do it.
Scientists argue: a person has a priority of short-term reinforcement and mood elevation over long-term goal achievement. To put it simply, your big victory in the future does not ignite you. It simply does not produce dopamine. But TV series and other entertainment are being developed. After each episode, the brain receives a small charge of endorphin and serotonin, so you think: “I'll watch another episode and go to the gym for sure. Of course, this often does not happen. Now you know how your brain is tricking you, so you can be more aware of your pastime.
We are all individuals: what works for one may not work for another. Nevertheless, here are some recommendations that will make the process of getting involved in the world of physical education more enjoyable.
Some people find it difficult to go to the gym or start physical activity alone. It's okay! As Aristotle said, we are social beings. So the first tip is to get a friend, family member, or colleague to try and train with them. This will not only make the process more fun but also get closer to those who are dear to you.
Some psychologists draw a parallel between doing unpleasant or difficult things and eating an elephant. You will not be able to swallow an elephant whole, but you can cut it into small pieces. It's the same with big things and goals: start exercising for 15 minutes every day. It is not only much easier than doing 2 hours one day a week, but it is also much more effective. Let the load be evenly distributed.
You should not rely on what other people like or what is popular right now. Your friend might like CrossFit, and you might like yoga. This is completely normal. Try different sports until you find one that makes you really good at it. Work on your body and health should be enjoyable and give you a boost of positive energy.
A good, high-quality form, made of materials that are pleasant to the body, is not so much a tribute to beauty as comfort and a positive attitude towards training. You should feel comfortable doing sports.
You need to develop a healthy approach to exercise. If you have a fever or malaise, if you are experiencing emotional problems, then you should not forcibly drag yourself to workout. This will not only not bring results, but also harm. Your task is not to achieve instant success, but to instill in yourself a love for physical activities and learn to listen to your body.
Motivation and enthusiasm are effective only in the early stages when you are just taking on something. But they tend to run dry. So accept the fact that routine is inevitable. You won't always feel like practicing. Regularity is the basis for developing new habits, including sports. Sometimes laziness will prevail, but try not to get out of your head the thought of why you need it. Do not deviate from the intended goal.
The value of consistency and a systematic approach is that they help you develop a new habit. They also change you as a person: you develop discipline and organization. And this is important not only where physical activity is necessary. This is important in any area of life.
