Study finds two key factors that increases motivation to exercise.
When it comes to exercise, finding the motivation to start your workout is usually the toughest part, particularly during the grizzly winter months. Research published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that when it comes to motivation, two key factors can make a positive difference.
Using the fitness app Carrot, researchers found that partnering up and using healthy rewards were the two most prominent motivation factors. When users were offered discounts on items like movies in exchange for a certain number of steps, their average step count increased by 600 steps per day.
Next, the app offered users the opportunity to buddy up with fellow users. Partners could pool their points and compare their activity. The partnerships led to 1,100 more steps on average per person.
Despite the small nature of the rewards, it seems that reward-based motivation, coupled with the accountability of an exercise partner, is an excellent strategy for being active each day.
Happily, you don’t need any apps to set up these simple strategies in your own life. Set your own fitness goals with small rewards for each milestone reached and find a friend who also wants to up their exercise routine. This partnership can be as simple as agreeing exercise targets for each day or each week and checking in to see if the other achieved them.
If you’re struggling with motivation, try these two simple strategies to inject new vigour in your (and your friend's) workout routine.