If it's pouring outside, skipping a workout could be inviting. How about when it's a perfect day and you don't want to exercise? You know it will make you feel better after a great workout, but you'd rather sit on the couch with a pint of Ben & Jerry's. Rather than hate yourself for not wanting to exercise, check your gut.
According to a 2022 study in Nature, your gut might explain why you don't feel like getting out the door. The study found that certain gut metabolites stimulate dopamine, which is a feel-good neurotransmitter in the brain. When you don't have these bacteria in your gut, the reduced dopamine gives you less reward after you exercise, which could diminish your motivation levels the next time.
Her first tip is to make physical activity fun for yourself. "Find an activity or sport you enjoy and use it as your workout," Dr. Perlus encourages. "By doing this, you will be getting exercise while hardly even thinking about it because you're having fun." For some, this might mean joining a team, she explains, such as a recreational softball league or beach volleyball club. The key is finding an activity that is of genuine interest to you in order to help make exercise feel like less of a dreaded chore.
Working out at the gym can be super motivating to some exercise-minded individuals. Professional equipment and personal trainers paired with the energy of people working out together, often in high-intensity classes where the group and instructor can cheer you through, offer a dynamic that can't quite be replicated at home. However, there are major benefits to working out at home – one of which is uninhibited activity. "Many of us are feeling critical of our bodies and focusing on appearance when we're feeling low can undermine the mental health benefits of working out," personal trainer Martha Munroe told Health Digest.
Unfortunately, many people may not be aware of how their mental health translates to their physical health. Our bodies are incredibly complex machines, with every part working together in harmony. However, it can't work in harmony if your brain is struggling to stay at its healthiest. The brain controls everything we do and how our bodies operate. When it's not feeling its best, there's a good chance your body isn't feeling its best, either. The opposite can also be true: When your body feels good, your brain usually feels good. However, according to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 adults worldwide don't get enough physical activity, and it could be the cause of more than five million global deaths each year.
According to the Better Health Channel, stress is a prime cause of health problems, including anxiety, depression, and injuries arising from stress-involved work hazards. U.S. News & World Report adds that toxicity in the workplace, unfulfillment from your job duties, and not getting enough physical movement at work can also lower the quality of your health. One 2014 study published in the National Library of Medicine found that men and women who have high stress levels from their jobs are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
