How to stay motivated to keep active

Choosing to be more active is great, but once you start it’s important to keep it up. There are many different tips you can use to stay motivated.

Be active with others

Try scheduling in time to be active with friends, family or colleagues. This can make physical activity something you look forward to.

You could:

• go for a walk, jog, wheel or cycle with a friend or family member
• play football with your children a few times a week

Join a class or club

Think about an activity you would like to try out and look for clubs or classes in your area.

Most leisure centres and gyms hold regular exercise classes. Once you sign up, this may keep you motivated to continue the activity.

Some activity groups, particularly running and walking groups, can be free.

Do what you enjoy

Try different activities until you find something you like.

If you become bored of an activity, move onto something else. Don’t think you have to find one activity and stick to it.

Being active doesn’t have to be a chore, you’re more likely to stick with it if you’re having fun.

Set goals

Once you have found an activity you enjoy, set yourself an achievable goal to work towards. For example, you could:

• work towards swimming a certain number of lengths
• try jogging a certain distance without stopping for a break

Once you achieve your goals, try increasing them a little to improve more.

If you’re looking to set more ambitious goals, find a charity sporting event that you can work towards.

You could also try a competitive sport that’ll motivate you to keep improving your performance.

Make physical activity part of your routine

Making physical activity part of your routine makes it more difficult to miss or forget. It can include scheduling time on certain days of the week to take part in a sport or attend a class.

Building activity into your daily routine can also include things like:

• taking the stairs instead of the lift at work each day
• walking to the shops instead of taking the car