For many people, getting down to work and accomplishing a goal means struggling with having the willpower to make changes.
One of those changes often involves prioritizing the need to exercise.
Willpower is what keeps many people from accomplishing well-intentioned goals.
It's as if there are two people talking at once.
One voice says, "Oh, you don't need to exercise today, it's too cold to go out for a walk.
" The other voice inside your head says, "Oh, yes you do, you can do it.
Just wear an extra layer of clothing and you will enjoy those steps toward changing your life for the better.
" If only all internal conversations were just that easy to work through.
But keep in mind every change starts with a few steps in the right direction.
So what's keeping your from moving forward? It's easy to blame your willpower but some researchers have said there's more to it than wanting to do something.
You need to know there is a strong connection between brain health, specifically executive function, and willpower.
Understanding Your Executive Function You may have thought a failure to exercise means you just don't have enough willpower.
But you should feel better knowing that new research says you can improve your willpower through better executive function.
Researchers have found that taking the leap toward accomplishing something is linked with your executive function.
That term refers to prospective memory meaning you have the ability to weigh good options, prioritize what needs to be done, and carry out tasks.
Science supports the link between executive function and stronger memory - they have been shown to go hand-in-hand.
When you work on improving your cognitive performance by taking control of your brain and improving your memory, you can improve your willpower in a variety of endeavors like making exercise a priority in your life.
What's Keeping You Indoors? Do you find it hard to make time for a walk outdoors? Many of us do because we live in climates that motivate us to retreat indoors.
New research from University of California, San Diego, suggests that going outside for exercise is essential to maintaining a good workout routine.
Everybody is busy, and life is always handing us obstacles that can prevent even the most well-intentioned person to skip the exercise and grab the remote.
Is it possible to get a good workout, and most importantly, motivate yourself to get moving when the weather is frightful? The answer is yes, however, UC San Diego study found that older adults were more likely to get sufficient exercise if they went outside.
The research found the participants that exercised outside were likely to have increased their overall workout by thirty minutes each week.
We all know that exercise is essential to healthy aging at any stage of our lives.
But making time yet alone the motivation to exercise is difficult for most of us.
Now research has found that individuals who eat and live well, and exercise often, share a common trait: Better willpower.
Take Control of Your Willpower Willpower can be defined as either self-discipline or self-control.
Training yourself to act in a more disciplined way sounds restricting, but what it offers in terms of psychological power, is a wellspring of action and increased energy.
Finding the motivation to get up from the comfortable confines of the couch to go do something unpleasant (though it really does help to re-code this thought into something neutral or positive) is more important than the actual exercise itself.
With consistent motivation, consistent exercise (or any positive goal) is possible.
Getting Motivated One thing is certain - willpower is not a light switch.
We cannot just simple tell ourselves toward action - we are sophisticated animals (perhaps debatable!) that need a system of goals and rewards to activate the "light switch.
" Be specific.
Goals are the first step toward finding the motivation to maintain a healthy self, no matter the time of day, season or crazy variable life has tossed your way this week.
Goals are the markers along the trail that tell our brains that we are moving forward, which in itself is a reward.
Be specific with your goals.
Don't say, "I want to exercise more next week.
" That doesn't give you enough structure to accomplish your goal.
Even if you feel motivated in the short-term, eventually, without a sense of progress, your motivation will likely dwindle.
Create goals that are not only specific but also realistic.
Here are some tips for staying on track: - Change requires risk.
When we decide to make changes in our lives, we may have to confront aspects in ourselves that we may not know about or may not like.
- Believe in yourself.
Because change is uncertain, the only way to change is to take a leap of faith that involves believing in yourself and that you can do it.
- Set up an environment that supports change.
Surround yourself with people who support you and believe in your goals.
- Recognize that change takes time.
Take one day at a time.
Try not to be impatient with yourself.
Remember, anything worthwhile and lasting, takes time.
One of those changes often involves prioritizing the need to exercise.
Willpower is what keeps many people from accomplishing well-intentioned goals.
It's as if there are two people talking at once.
One voice says, "Oh, you don't need to exercise today, it's too cold to go out for a walk.
" The other voice inside your head says, "Oh, yes you do, you can do it.
Just wear an extra layer of clothing and you will enjoy those steps toward changing your life for the better.
" If only all internal conversations were just that easy to work through.
But keep in mind every change starts with a few steps in the right direction.
So what's keeping your from moving forward? It's easy to blame your willpower but some researchers have said there's more to it than wanting to do something.
You need to know there is a strong connection between brain health, specifically executive function, and willpower.
Understanding Your Executive Function You may have thought a failure to exercise means you just don't have enough willpower.
But you should feel better knowing that new research says you can improve your willpower through better executive function.
Researchers have found that taking the leap toward accomplishing something is linked with your executive function.
That term refers to prospective memory meaning you have the ability to weigh good options, prioritize what needs to be done, and carry out tasks.
Science supports the link between executive function and stronger memory - they have been shown to go hand-in-hand.
When you work on improving your cognitive performance by taking control of your brain and improving your memory, you can improve your willpower in a variety of endeavors like making exercise a priority in your life.
What's Keeping You Indoors? Do you find it hard to make time for a walk outdoors? Many of us do because we live in climates that motivate us to retreat indoors.
New research from University of California, San Diego, suggests that going outside for exercise is essential to maintaining a good workout routine.
Everybody is busy, and life is always handing us obstacles that can prevent even the most well-intentioned person to skip the exercise and grab the remote.
Is it possible to get a good workout, and most importantly, motivate yourself to get moving when the weather is frightful? The answer is yes, however, UC San Diego study found that older adults were more likely to get sufficient exercise if they went outside.
The research found the participants that exercised outside were likely to have increased their overall workout by thirty minutes each week.
We all know that exercise is essential to healthy aging at any stage of our lives.
But making time yet alone the motivation to exercise is difficult for most of us.
Now research has found that individuals who eat and live well, and exercise often, share a common trait: Better willpower.
Take Control of Your Willpower Willpower can be defined as either self-discipline or self-control.
Training yourself to act in a more disciplined way sounds restricting, but what it offers in terms of psychological power, is a wellspring of action and increased energy.
Finding the motivation to get up from the comfortable confines of the couch to go do something unpleasant (though it really does help to re-code this thought into something neutral or positive) is more important than the actual exercise itself.
With consistent motivation, consistent exercise (or any positive goal) is possible.
Getting Motivated One thing is certain - willpower is not a light switch.
We cannot just simple tell ourselves toward action - we are sophisticated animals (perhaps debatable!) that need a system of goals and rewards to activate the "light switch.
" Be specific.
Goals are the first step toward finding the motivation to maintain a healthy self, no matter the time of day, season or crazy variable life has tossed your way this week.
Goals are the markers along the trail that tell our brains that we are moving forward, which in itself is a reward.
Be specific with your goals.
Don't say, "I want to exercise more next week.
" That doesn't give you enough structure to accomplish your goal.
Even if you feel motivated in the short-term, eventually, without a sense of progress, your motivation will likely dwindle.
Create goals that are not only specific but also realistic.
Here are some tips for staying on track: - Change requires risk.
When we decide to make changes in our lives, we may have to confront aspects in ourselves that we may not know about or may not like.
- Believe in yourself.
Because change is uncertain, the only way to change is to take a leap of faith that involves believing in yourself and that you can do it.
- Set up an environment that supports change.
Surround yourself with people who support you and believe in your goals.
- Recognize that change takes time.
Take one day at a time.
Try not to be impatient with yourself.
Remember, anything worthwhile and lasting, takes time.
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