Everyone knows exercise is a useful way to improve your health. Of course, knowing and doing are two different things. Many of us start out an exercise program with the best of intentions, only to find that we can’t stay focused and end up not meeting our goals.

How to Stay Focused When Starting to Exercise
There are two areas you need to keep focused on when starting a new exercise program.

Your long-term focus is your ultimate goal for exercising. You might want to lose weight, gain muscle or flexibility, or have a healthier lifestyle.

To help yourself focus better, turn your long-term goal into something you can measure. If you want to lose weight, pick a specific amount to lose. If you want a healthier life, decide on what that means in terms of exercise – being able to walk or run a specific distance, lift a certain amount of weight, or achieve an exercise streak for a set amount of days.

Once you know your long-term goal, break down the steps you’ll take to reach your goal. Try to make these goals easy to achieve in a short time. For example, you might set a goal to get to the gym three days this week or to walk around the neighborhood park in 15 minutes or fewer.

Staying Focused in the Moment
Depending on the type of exercise you’re doing, you may find that it’s hard to keep focused as you’re doing it. Boredom can drain your enthusiasm for exercise quickly.

To stay focused while exercising, try these tricks that veteran exercisers find helpful:

• Know your exercise plan before you start.
• Listen to music with a suitable beat for your activity level.
• Learn the correct form for your exercises and concentrate on using it.
• Picture the outcome you’re working for.

The more you’re able to remain focused on exercising, the faster you’ll see results that encourage you to stick with your new exercise routine.