Hello and welcome to my very first blog post on my new website: bemotivatedcoaching.com.
I’ve decided to write posts about my learning in the wellbeing space covering a vast array of topics on how to live a fully motivated and energised life and truly be a better you.
For my first post I wanted to explore motivation around exercise. According to research, over 20 million people in the UK are inactive and living sedentary lifestyles is actually more concerning for our long-term health than smoking and diabetes.
Keeping physically active has enormous benefits for our physical health, such as reducing cardiovascular disease by 35%, the risk of several cancers and developing type 2 diabetes by up to 40%. In fact, a recent study of over 122,000 patients revealed that cardiovascular fitness is associated with the lowest risk of mortality. Keeping active also impacts positively on our mental health and overall wellbeing. Benefits include: increases in positive mood, happiness, self-esteem, productivity, creativity, efficiency and improved self-perception. Regular physical activity also makes us less prone to illness, assists us in having healthy sleep patterns, reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as decreasing stress and irritability.
I believe there is at least one type of physical activity each individual can find which will not only improve their physical and mental wellbeing, but that they will actually love doing too, and not just for 2 or 3 weeks in January each year but throughout their lifetimes! I am passionate about enabling positive change in people to find the motivation they need to transform ideas of exercise from being a chore to something which they love doing and which actually provides energy and fuel to enjoy a happy and healthy life.
The Science behind exercise motivation
My work is influenced by the research of Michelle Segar, motivational and behavioural sustainability scientist at the University of Michigan. Michelle’s ground-breaking work focuses on implementing sustainable behaviour change and transforming the way we think about exercise and physical activity. Grounded in scientific evidence based theory her philosophy seeks to move away from the idea of exercise being a chore aimed at losing weight, getting in to shape or for more health related reasons, where most of us are trapped in a vicious cycle of failure; to physical movement and exercise actually becoming something we love and want to do which then becomes the essential energy we need to navigate through our busy lives and the positive cycle of success.
My work is also influenced by self-determination theory developed by academics Deci and Ryan. The theory outlines that human beings have an intrinsic and inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined and connected to one another. When these three elements are present our motivational drive is liberated and we can not only achieve more but lead more liberated and happy lives. Daniel Pink talks about this in his fascinating book Drive as he explores the importance of mastery, autonomy and purpose in enabling us to be truly intrinsically motivated.
Move more often
Becoming physically fitter is not necessarily about having to work out for hours in the gym sweating, it is about incorporating more movement into our lifestyles and not necessarily in one go, but throughout our day whether that be walking up stairs instead of taking the lift in the office or walking a stop further when you get off the bus.
By transforming the way we think about exercise you can get to a point where you have more energy, greater stamina, enhanced creativity, improved efficiency, enhanced mood, sustained levels of concentration, stronger immune systems, improved sleep, and generally be happier and more balanced and rounded in all aspects of your life!
