​​How to boost motivation to be active

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of elation you get after doing a great workout. You’re feeling motivated, happy and on-track with your goals.

This initial rush of motivation helps carry you through your workouts, largely thanks to the release of powerful neurotransmitters like endorphins, particularly serotonin and dopamine. This surge of energy and satisfaction following a successful workout is a fantastic, immediate reward. It's the body's natural "feel-good" system kicking in, reinforcing the positive behaviour.

However, the reality of a long-term fitness journey demands more than this temporary, post-workout high. To successfully sustain the discipline required for regular exercise, it helps to anchor yourself to a deeper, more enduring source of inspiration. This is where the concept of your core motivation—your fundamental 'why'—becomes indispensable.

This 'why' is the powerful reason that originally inspired you to lace up your shoes and take that first step. Perhaps you wanted to gain more energy for yourself and your loved ones. Maybe you have set a personal challenge, such as a charity run. Perhaps your reason to exercise is based on long-term health goals.

Whatever your reason, when those inevitable days arrive when motivation dips— the weather is poor, time is scarce, or the sofa beckons—the strategy for perseverance has two essential components. First, actively recall that immediate, excellent feeling of accomplishment and wellbeing that follows a great workout. Second, and most critically, always keep those personal, and important, long-term goals front and center. By regularly reflecting on the bigger picture—the meaningful reason you started your exercise journey—you can help keep your motivation strong.