Spending more time at home in the current environment we find ourselves in, may have affected our routine and sapped our energy and enthusiasm to exercise. For some of us, it may have had the reverse effect.

Exercise is one of the few things in life that is really good for us. It can help in many ways – from boosting our feel good factor and our general wellbeing, to reducing stress, weight control plus many other benefits. The problem is we don’t always feel like exercising.

So, what can we do when our “get up and go” has “got up and left?”

Well, apparently science may have the answer as a result of the work of Michelle Segar at the University of Michigan. Her research has found that a key aspect is to reframe exercise and to stop thinking of it as a chore and start thinking of it as a gift.

In particular, one technique is to instead of saying “I have to exercise” is to say “I want to exercise.”

Researchers claim that the best way to sustain behaviour is if we have autonomy and can draw on a desire within, rather than being controlled by and having to rely on outside motivators. They go onto claim that saying “I have to” imposes an element of external control, whereas saying “I want to” means it’s our choice and we can draw on our own values, desires and wishes.

So, the next time you are not feeling motivated to go out for a run, bike ride, a walk, or to hit the online workout session you may wish to use this simple linguistic technique.

Making exercise enjoyable and doing some regular physical activity, however long or short, is likely to help us say “I want to”, although I’m convinced my wife say’s this so she can have an extra glass of wine!!

PS If you are interested to find out more about Michelle Segar’s work she has written a book No Sweat: How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness which is available on Amazon.