The science of motivation: what makes people exercise?
International athlete and sports trainer Steve Green shares his thoughts on the psychology of exercise. What makes us commit to regular activity, and strive to improve our performance?
There are many reason behind people’s motivation to exercise, and they’re as varied as the individuals themselves. Looking at the general public, the most common reasons are usually based on health and wellbeing. Others include body image, social inclusion, a competitive nature and even addiction to endorphins.
It’s fair to say that it’s often a combination of different factors that provide an individual with the basic motivation to train. Many people look to top sportsmen and women as role models - but this can have both positive and negative effects.
Sporting role models
The focus created in admiring a leading sports personality is a clear positive. But on the negative side, there is often little understanding of the years of dedicated work the star has put in to achieve their level of excellence. So it’s easy to become demotivated in the early stages as it becomes clear how hard it is to achieve a high level.
What then can the novice learn from the high achievers, and how top class sportspeople maintain their motivation day in and day out?
Five steps to motivation
Most sports stars have access to highly sophisticated back-up teams that plan and adjust training programmes on a daily basis - something that is simply not available to the majority. Yet some simple things will always provide improvements, whatever your level of training:
1. Routine. A key part of improving is to establish regular training that suits your personal schedule and fitness levels.
2. Lifestyle. Simple, well-maintained habits of good nutrition, sleep and hygiene are the perfect base upon which to build improvement.
3. Targets. Establish regular and realistic goals to aim for. Many people set arbitrary and unrealistic expectations - and lose motivation when they fail to reach them. Don’t fall into this trap!
4. Events.It’s often helpful to add an event to your calendar to aim for. Whether it’s a fun run, a half-marathon or simply wanting to look your best for a wedding or job interview, having a deadline can really drive commitment.
5. Environment. The people you choose to train with and where you carry out your session play an important role in maintaining motivation. You might commit to a weekly run with a friend, or a regular circuit training class. Wanting to see your peers and possibly enjoy some gentle competition is a great way to create a routine you can stick to.
These five simple things are available to us all and are the pillars upon which professional sports people anchor their training programmes. We can’t all be superstars, but we can certainly improve the quality of our lives with regular exercise.
Stephen Green has been involved in the production of high performance sports athletes for over half a century. An international sprinter, he moved into strength and conditioning and has worked with world class stars who have reached the very top of their sport. Steve travelled on the ATP men’s tour with two top five ranked players. He has guided many young sports people who went on to gain international honours in many different sports. He continues to train sports people alongside mentoring their parents and coaches.