Motivation or a Deeper Reason to Exercise
We’ve all been there—feeling excited to start a new exercise routine, only to have that motivation fade within a few weeks. The truth is, motivation is unreliable. It fluctuates based on mood, energy levels, and life circumstances. If you rely solely on motivation, you’ll struggle to maintain consistency in your exercise routine. Instead, what truly matters is having a strong, deeply personal reason to commit to regular exercise.
Motivation is Temporary
The definition of motivation is a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way. By definition motivation can change depending on so many factors (too many to mention) but the most common problem are they are external reasons.
Once the initial excitement of making that choice wares off it rarely turns into a long-term commitment. When the excitement fades, so does the drive to keep going. That’s why so many people start strong but eventually quit.
The Power of an Important Reason
Having a meaningful reason—something that truly matters to you—can make all the difference. Unlike motivation, which is fleeting, a strong reason provides purpose and resilience. Some examples include:
Health Benefits: Managing a chronic condition, reducing pain, or improving mobility.
Family & Loved Ones: Staying active to play with your kids or ensure a long, healthy life for your family.
Mental Well-being: Using exercise as a way to manage stress, anxiety, or depression.
Independence & Functionality: Maintaining strength and mobility to stay self-sufficient as you age.
Make it a need, not a want
One task I get clients to do is an activity called The 7 Why’s.
The 7 why’s works like this:
Ask yourself why are you doing deciding to exercise
Answer that question. eg. I want to lose 10kg before the wedding
Ask why or what makes that reason important
Answer the new question. eg. I want to look good in photos
Ask why or what makes that reason important
Answer again. eg. I want to show these photos off to my children and be a good role model
and so on, until you have a super meaningful answer for yourself
My reason is to be able to play in the parents vs kids sport matches, ain’t no way I’m letting my, eventual, child bet me in sport. I am yet to have kids and my knee injury makes it more challenging but that is my reason to ensure I am healthy, fit, strong for my family for as long as possible all while being the best role model I can.
If you can get to a reason that deep and meaningful for yourself then you will always prioritise your health and exercise will be a must and not a want.
Conclusion
Motivation may help you start, but a strong reason will keep you going. When you connect your exercise routine to something truly important in your life, it becomes easier to stay consistent. Next time you feel like skipping a workout, remind yourself why you started in the first place. Your reason will always be more powerful than fleeting motivation.
