How to change your relationship with sports
Miscellaneous / / July 08, 2023
Start by setting up social networks and three simple questions after a new workout.
Since its inception in the 1950s, the fitness industry has instilled in us the belief that sport is meant to solely for one purpose - to become as slender, fit and, therefore, more desired. In the 1980s, Jane Fonda's aerobics classes taught us that the body is a project that needs to be constantly worked on. Changing attitudes that have been shaped for decades can be very difficult.
However, the true power of exercise has nothing to do with appearance. They give us much more by improving our mental and emotional state. Regular exercise can be a tool for true self-care, helping us develop a sense of purpose and strength that extends beyond our muscles.
Going in for sports, we get a whole stream of hormones that ensure our well-being. Physical activity raises dopamine levels, which make us happier and relieve stress. Workout facilitate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and even give us a sense of purpose and hope for the future.
But here's the catch: motivation. If we exercise because we feel like we have to, guilt and pressure interfere with the brain's reward system and blunt the positive effects. Instead, training can increase shame, self-judgment, and fear. That is why it is important to improve your relationship with sports. This can be done in the following ways.
1. Customize your social media feed
Looking through fitness accounts, where everyone is thin and fit, even the most confident people can begin to doubt their figure. Although in fact it is not the body that needs to be changed, but the news feed.
For starters, it's worth unfollowing bloggers who directly or indirectly make you think that you need to become slim in order to become happy. Instead, find those who motivate you to accept and love yourself just the way you are.
Social media can be very toxic, but only if you let it be. Add pages to your feed that showcase a variety of shapes, counteract the cult of diets and break the stereotype that exercise is primarily needed to look a certain way. So you will begin to gradually rebuild your system of values related to sports.
2. Search for a hobby
It may be a legacy of the 1980s fitness culture, with its “you can’t catch a fish out of a pond without effort,” but many still believe that exercise without suffering doesn’t count. But such a "punitive" approach negates any benefits of physical activity, and in fact, the more you enjoy a workout, the more likely you are to repeat it again.
If you have not yet found an activity that gives you joy, try everything that sparks your interest: trampolining, hiking, yoga, powerlifting. The main thing is to remain curious and accept that you can try a lot of things before you find what you truly love. Many people often think that something is wrong with them because they do not enjoy sports. Although the whole point is that certain workouts simply do not suit them.
You can look at the search and the other side. Think about what you need and lack in different areas of your life, and then choose the physical activity that meets your needs. For example, if you want to connect with people more, start attending group workouts. If you are looking for peace and harmony, pay attention yoga.
Take note😊
- How to choose the load in the first workouts to love the sport
3. Ask questions at the end of a new workout
The physical activity you enjoy doesn't have to be easy and gentle, and you don't have to enjoy it every minute. We often get more satisfaction from workouts that challenge our abilities and motivate us to overcome fears and barriers.
When you stop associating sports with calories to burn or body parts to change, it will be easier for you to understand how useful and meaningful certain exercises are for you. To find out if a particular workout is right for you, ask yourself three questions at the end:
- Am I feeling better?
- Am I looking at the world around me or looking to the future more positively?
- Do I like my place in the world?
If you answered yes to at least two questions, you are on the right track.
4. Exercise for the benefit of others
If you want to add extra value to your workouts, think about what you can do during your physical activity. Research provethat when we volunteer to help others, it improves our mental health and makes us happier. For example, invite a friend to walk to the forest and at the same time collect garbage or take part in a charity marathon.
5. Make training meaningful
When you treat exercise as a chore, you miss out on getting more out of it than just a toned body. For example, the ability to satisfy your need to pay attention exclusively to yourself and focus on your thoughts. This is especially important for young mothers who spend a lot of time with their children and train only to get back in shape. Start seeing exercise as a way to take care of yourself and be yourself, rather than being a parent, partner, or employee.
6. Create a sense of belonging
Many people are familiar with the situation when you come to a new gym and feel terribly uncomfortable because of the volume of the figure, age or pattern on the leggings. Even worse, if it seems that everyone around you is looking past you and avoiding any contact.
If you've found a place where you're welcome and comfortable, help other people feel the same way. When you see someone standing alone in a corner, walk over and start a conversation. This simple trick will create an atmosphere in which everyone will enjoy playing sports.
Read also🧐
- 5 tips to start exercising and not give up
- Why is it so difficult to exercise after work and can it be fixed
- How to stop seeing training as punishment for high-calorie foods