Motivation
“Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you are willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it.”
What keeps us from getting up and being active? Or better yet, what excuses do we give ourselves? How do we find the inspiration to get up and move our bodies?
MOTIVATION: The process that initiates, guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviors.
There are two types of motivation, INTRINSIC and EXTRINSIC.
1. Extrinsic motivations are those that arise from outside of the individual and often involve rewards such as trophies, money, social recognition or praise. This also includes motivation to avoid punishment.
This includes things like:
-Studying to get good grades or cleaning your room to avoid getting reprimanded by your parents.
2. Intrinsic motivations involve engaging in a behavior because it is personally rewarding; essentially, performing an activity for its own sake rather than the desire for some external reward.
This would be doing things like:
-Playing a sport for fun or solving a puzzle because you enjoy it.
There are many different ways to get/stay motivated:
1. Set Goals
2. Make it fun
3. Make physical activity part of your routine
4. Put it on paper
5. Join forces with friends, neighbors, or others.
6. Reward yourself
7. Be flexible
Ever since I was a kid, an active lifestyle seemed to always suit me best. I was happiest when I was active, running around doing whatever it was that I was doing. I found that through middle school and high school, sports kept me focused in the classroom and also allowed me to have fun doing what I love doing. From football to basketball to volleyball and now to just exercising in general, I enjoy everything about it. The biggest motivation for me to be active was and still is the unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle that seems to be so prevalent in my extended family. I grew up watching family members not be able to participate in family fun activities because of their weight problems and to this day I still see it at every family gathering. My hope is that my family members and all other people in desperate health situations will find their motivation to get up and get active before it’s too late!
William Purcell
Growing up being physically active was never really a problem. As a kid I’d always be involved in sports, martial arts, or just playing outside with my siblings. My parents would also be involved by keeping us active by take my siblings and I hiking or to the pool. It is now having grown up that I feel like I’ve been struggling a bit more to stay active especially with things like work and school taking up you’re free time. I especially struggle with trying to find the motivation to be active, but I tend to find it in my friends and family. They are very influential in my active life especially since just going to gym doesn’t work out for me. Every Sunday we have a family day at the park where we play volleyball. Besides that, a couple friends of mine are my dance partners I go out with and friends and family are usually the ones I set up hiking trips with or run the occasional 5k with. My dog also joins me with walks or hikes so it benefits both of us. It’s a time well spent when I can enjoy their company and exercising at the same time.
Marina Amaya
Where I come from, and being active is a very common lifestyle. In Hawaii it's very easy to find something that's both physically active and entertaining. I used to go to the beach and sometimes I would go hiking. When I moved to Las Vegas, that all seemed to change until I found out about Zumba. I started dancing Zumba at a local Las Vegas studio and it has really changed my life. Since I started doing Zumba regularly, I have found that my focus is better, my grades in school are definitely better. I feel more happy and I also sleep better. I'm also starting to fit my clothes better. But I wouldn't have stuck with Zumba if it hadn't been for my friend Brittany and my sister Emily. My social support got me out of my house and into the Zumba studio. Those two have been my biggest motivation and I don't know what I would do without them.
Annie Hoadley
Since I was 3 years old I have always been active. I started playing on a soccer team at the ago of 3. My parents were always very active as children as well which made it a lot easier for them to push both of my sisters and myself to be just as active as they were. I played soccer for 16 years of my life, starting at the age of 3 until the end of my senior year of high school. I never got a scholarship for soccer due to having knee surgery, which took away my chances, but that didn't stop me from continuing an active lifestyle. I still play indoor soccer with a team, I love to go hiking on the weekends, I attend yoga classes, and usually go to the gym. I have many friends who enjoy an active lifestyle like myself, which makes all of this more enjoyable, and I simply enjoy working out and being active. It helps so much to have a support system around you that will enjoy working out and being active with you.
Abby Oliver
Growing up in Santa Monica Beach, my passion was roller blading everyday. Ever since I moved to Nevada, my favorite physical activity as a girl has changed to fit the life style in Las Vegas. I consider myself to be very active. I enjoy spending time with my dogs at the park, Mt Charleston and Red Rock. I thank my dogs for keeping me motivated to stay fit and positive!
Mirza Arvizu
