How can I start to enjoy and commit to exercise?

for me I love the therapeutic aspect of excercise. The good feeling you get afterwards, taking a break from life’s bs and the feeling of accomplishment when you do better than you did before. That’s what keeps me going to the gym 6 days a week and sometimes for 2hours (which I am trying to cut down).


Maybe you need to think carefully about what exercise/sports you like. What are your goals? Once you got those 2 down it will be easier to focus and be consistent in the long term.

I'd like to become more flexible and gain some muscles, do you recommend some daily exercises?

I also have a tendency to hate exercise, but my absolute favourite thing to do is horse riding. I haven't been riding much recently due to exams and I have really noticed how my fitness level has dropped. Honestly I would recommend it so much, because not only is the actual riding exercise, but so is the mucking out etc. (and you can be paid to do that 😂). So I guess my no 1 piece of advice is get an active job, as then you won't feel like you're just exercising for the sake of it, you'll actually be getting paid!

The concept of rewarding yourself works for some, it doesn’t for others.

Not necessarily rewarding yourself through snacks that defy the point of the entirety of your workout, but maybe paying for yourself to go to the cinema or something you enjoy when you hit a certain goal, for example monthly?

It’s a hit or miss, some people have the undisciplined attitude of doing that regardless, but I suggest trying it. It also helps to become more appreciative of the littler things and mentally helps you in finding peace in what is usually overseen. It could literally be buying yourself a book, a game, or putting money towards funding a trip/clothes/literally whatever you want.

Sure it’s a money eater, but what isn’t?
Once you get into the routine and thesis of rewarding yourself, you could change the ‘reward’ to something that isn’t costly. Or even if you aren’t able to afford monthly expenses.
Create yourself a spa day, buy some face masks (Poundland sell some good ones ngl) and have the cliche ‘self care’ day.
One thing I actually also suggest is limiting your phone usage, it sounds stupid but you may result to exercise out of boredom. An app I use is called Flora, (they have one called Forest that is the exact same, Idk why) and you can set a timer within the app for x amount of minutes. You can play your playlist beforehand and change songs on your lockscreen, but opening an app/going off the timer will result in it stopping. Basically, you make coins from completing the timer and these can plant real life trees. It definitely takes a while, I’ve been using it for 2 months and have 1300/2500 coins for a tree, but I feel like I am helping myself whilst even slightly contributing to helping the world. It’s real, they have images of their projects and banners and app development with tree planting. You get more coins from unlocking ‘achievements’ from doing x amount of hours in total. Sorry to ramble, but you could also try this app when exercising. This also keeps you more connected with reality and helps you to find a better, mental peace within yourself.

This is brilliant advice! Thanks so much, I will definitely do that! I really like the sound of the "Flora" app, I'd love to help plant trees even if it takes a while. No idea how coins = actual planting trees, but hell who cares?
And I looove the idea of rewarding myself, definitely will do that as well.
Thanks again!

No problem!! Yeah, I’m not sure how the app developers actually are able to do what they do, but it’s a good motivator. My one is called Forest but my friend downloaded an identical one called Flora.
Awesome!! A lot of people usually get caught up in rewarding themselves with snacks, which you can but in moderation!! Maybe every 2 weeks buy yourself your favourite drink or ice cream, whatever you want. Not after every exercise as some people do though

Haha, agreed!!
Best wishes xx