Motivation Monday: Make It Fun!

It’s a well known fact that feeling positive makes us feel like time is passing faster than it really is. Similarly, when we experience negative feelings, time feels like it’s dragging. For a lot of us, this positive versus negative effect is often what holds us back or propels us forward — especially when it comes to our own health and fitness.

Getting your sweat on, says Laguna Beach fitness expert Cora Kasperski, needs to be fun. She recommends  taking a friend on walks or runs and joining a gym where you already know some of the members — especially if they’re the type of people who make you laugh. 

"Fitness isn't a New Year's resolution,” Kasperski told us. She should know. As the founder, owner and head trainer at Laguna Fitness (1999 South Coast Hwy.), Cora has been training local athletes, moms, and others interested in personal fitness here in Laguna Beach since 2003. “Fitness and staying in shape is part of a lifestyle that can add years to your life and improve your health and outlook. But it only works if you love the time you spend making it happen."

With that in mind, its important to point out that not all positive experiences are created equal. Feelings of contentment or serenity, for example, are certainly positive ones, but they aren't very high in what researchers call 'approach motivation' — they don't make us want to get up and go out and pursue or achieve something highly specific like getting back into or staying in shape.

So, when it comes to finding motivation for being fit, tap into feelings of true excitement and desire because those are the ones that will propel you to go forth and conquer.

For more information on Cora, visit Laguna Fitness.