Even a favorite exercise can get boring after a while. Running can be exhilarating, but sometimes just the thought of getting up extra early to get a jog in can leave you fantasizing about hitting the snooze button.
The Washington Post recently checked in with a few longtime runners for their tricks to get motivated. A few ideas:
Find jogging buddies. Friends don’t let friends slack off. Or, if your friends aren’t the running types, try sites like Strava, a social networking site for athletes.
Create a list. Literally. Write down your goal and then create a checklist of all the steps you need to take to get there. Then check them off. It’s harder to ignore your goals when they’re on the front of the fridge.
Introduce a friend. Encourage a friend to pick up jogging. Then run with them. You’ll find yourself more motivated by their enthusiasm.
Rethink why you run. Maybe it’s just time to come at it from a different approach. If you’re tired of always training for the next big run, maybe just scrap the upcoming half-marathon. Instead, run for the sake of running once again.
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