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    7 Ways To Find The Motivation To Exercise When The Struggle Is Real

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    Your goal this year was to lose a couple of kilos, or get fitter and stronger, but you only really got as far as buying the pricey shoes that were supposed to make you a better runner. You keep telling yourself “I’ll start on Monday,” but life happens… Well, that’s all about to change. Because I know the struggle – and these are the ways I motivate myself. And they actually work.

    Ahead, 7 ways to find motivation.

    Forget The Numbers

    One of the most demotivating things about exercising is not seeing results. You sweat your butt off every workout, but the scale just doesn’t reflect the effort. Why? Because the scale can be deceiving. If you’re doing strength workouts, you’re gaining muscle. And because muscle weighs more than fat – well, you do the maths.

    I stopped weighing myself because I became so consumed by the numbers that they began to dictate how I felt about myself. If the scale didn’t show I’d lost weight, I wanted to throw in the towel (and a couple of times I did). Instead of focusing on the number on the scale, gauge your fitness/weight loss on how you’re feeling, how you progress in your workouts and how your clothes fit you.

    READ MORE: 10 South African TikTok Fitness Accounts That’ll Give You ALL The Motivation You Need

    Press Play

    There are days where you’re just not feeling it, which is okay – but ask yourself: Am I just being lazy or do I need a rest day? If it’s the former, try music. Spotify has amazing playlists.

    Whatever your fancy, the right music offers a great distraction as you sweat. Plus: Studies show that music can help you push harder during your workouts. Opt for tunes with 120 and 140 beats per minute for best results.

    Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

    You know that saying: Comparison is the thief of joy? It’s true. We think other people look ‘better’ than us – but the presence of someone else’s beauty doesn’t mean an absence of your own. Sure, you might never look like an Insta star or have an ass like Kim Kardashian, and that’s okay. Be your only competition. Do better than you did yesterday. Smash your PB. Just do you.

    READ MORE: You Can Do This Arms & Abs Bodyweight Workout Anywhere

    Try Something New

    Routine is great, but it can also be super boring and I know it! If you’re not enjoying running on the treadmill, chances are you won’t have the motivation to do it. So find something you love. Try dancing, hiking, rock climbing, surfing – any form of movement that gets the heart rate up. Get out of your comfort zone. If you’re doing an activity that pushes you and you enjoy it, you’re most likely to stick to it in the long run.

    Get A Workout Buddy

    A workout partner can push you – and hold you accountable for slacking. Shy? Join a Facebook group. Having support will help you stay motivated and inspired. Just be sure to pick someone who will actually help you rather than flaking at the last minute…

    READ MORE: Beginners 5K Running Training Plan And How To Crush It In Just 6 Weeks

    Set Small, Realistic Goals

    Having one massive goal is intimidating. Check it out: So you wanted to lose 50kg in one year? Sounds huge, right? But if you say I want to lose four kilos a month, or one kilo a week, that goal seems more attainable. The same goes for completing a full marathon: 42km is long, but if you break up your training into a 5k, then a 10k, and so on, eventually 42km will seem way less daunting.

    Have A Vision

    What’s your end goal? It helps to write down your short, medium and long-term goals. Or make a vision board that depicts everything you want to achieve. Having a visual reminder of why you exercise will help you when things get hard. Can you see it? Now go do it. You’ve got this!

    READ MORE: 5 Steps For Tapping Into Motivation, Direct From The Pros More

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      in health and weelbeing

      Here’s Why Burnout Among Women Is A Bigger Issue Than You’d Think

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      Burnout is incredibly common and even more so the further along the year goes. And women bear the brunt of burnout rates, according to studies. The issue is larger than you’d think and affects women differently than it does men. That’s because women shoulder responsibilities at home and at work, taking on roles that can be emotionally and physically draining.

      What is burnout?

      Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged stress. Globally, just over 42% of women report being burned out. Women are delivering performance and business results but at a great personal toll.

      How burnout manifests among women

      International studies have shown that women in senior management roles do more to help their employees navigate work-life challenges relative to their male peers. Women spend more time helping manage workloads and are 60% more likely to be focusing on emotional support. This is important, as it helps employees feel good about themselves. But employees have reported that when they receive additional support, they are happier in their job and less likely to move.

      Women take on work at home, too

      One in three women and 60% of mothers with young children spend five or more hours a day on housework, homework and caregiving. Five hours a day is equivalent to a half-time job.

      “Burnout arises when individuals cannot access enough recovery between stressors,” explains Kerry Rudman from Brain Harmonics, a Neurofeedback organisation specialising in retraining brains.

      “We see this particularly with employed parents who face a higher number of and longer exposure to stressors from the multiple roles they play. This is compared with non-parents. And they have less ability to access periods of recovery as a result. Employed parents report several stressors. In particular, a lack of work-life balance, increased responsibilities at both work and home, greater concern for safety at work and for their kids at school, a loss of social support and isolation.”

      In collective studies conducted around the world, employed parents have reported the following in comparison to non-parents.

      Women are worn-out after work

      The compounded pressure of working while parenting, including remote schooling and working, has left many with feelings of apathy and fatigue. They feel that they are failing to live up to their own expectations across their multiple social roles. There are also indications that parents are not finding support or help from their employees.

      “Of the parents who report burnout – 90% believe their management considers productivity to be more important than mental health,” says Rudman. “Because of this, a lot of people will never discuss any issues that they are experiencing with their management or co-workers. People don’t want to be seen as incompetent or be at risk of being replaced. There is an assumption that people should be glad that they have a job right now and everyone just needs to do the extra work demanded of them as they could easily be replaced.”

      Employed parents report a range of stressors that have deteriorated their mental health. The level of household responsibilities is a particular problem. “In a survey conducted by Brain Harmonics, parents experiencing symptoms of burnout are more often responsible for all household duties. That’s compared with parents not experiencing symptoms of burnout (57 percent versus 41 percent),” says Rudman.

      In fact, the majority of parents responsible for all household duties report symptoms of burnout. These responsibilities, including caring for older adult family members in addition to children, most often fall to women. They have also been more likely to cut back on paid work during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to provide childcare. For these women, reduced paid time at work could also exacerbate the symptoms of burnout, if their responsibilities at work do not also decrease.

      Moms are worried about their kids

      Four in five employed parents say that they feel concerned about their child’s mental health. And more than one-third rate this concern as extreme.

      In a McKinsey and Co survey, parents are more likely than non-parents to report missing days of work because of burnout. They are also more likely to use leaves of absence and supported employment.

      Employed parents are more likely than non-parents to see themselves staying at their employer in two years’ time. But burnout correlates to employed parents’ likelihood of not recommending their place of work to others.

      “What’s more, stress and burnout, are the main reasons that cause people to consider leaving their jobs,” says Rudman.

      Alleviating the symptoms of burnout

      If you think you’re burnt out, or heading in that direction, therapy is a powerful tool. It’s a way to verbalise and let go of stressors while creating lasting, sustainable habits that can support a well-rounded lifestyle. Neurofeedback is another option: a non-invasive tool that can improve mental health and the feelings of physical burnout. It measures brain waves and provides a feedback signal to the brain so that new, healthier neuropathways are formed. For more information about neurofeedback training, check out Brain Harmonics.

      As with anything, burnout is a condition that needs to be treated with expertise. Chat with your doctor and a therapist to get the help you need. More

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      in fitness and body

      “I Did A 30-Day Push-up Challenge—Here’s What Happened”

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      There’s a reason military sergeants demand push-ups as a form of punishment. They are effing hard, can knock even the fittest off their feet—okay, toes—and seem to be designed to reveal weaknesses. So much so that fitness editors have been guilty of blowing off the classic move. My go-to excuses when they pop up in a class or training session: “I’m too sore” or “My elbow hurts!”
      But! They’re also one of the all-time exercise MVPs, no question. Push-ups are mega-efficient multitaskers—working your whole body in every rep.
      With fitness streaks (a month of repeating the same exercise every day) being all the rage, we wondered: Could committing to a 30-day push-up challenge finally change our feelings toward the little guys, all while chiselling our muscles? Ready to rid myself of my own cop-outs and make something of my average arms, I signed up to find out.
      READ MORE: Quick HIIT Warm Up: Blast More KJs By Doing These 3 Moves First
      Wanna Try A Fitness Challenge? Here’s What To Do – And What To Avoid
      First step in taking on a 30-day push-up challenge: I called personal-training connoisseur Tony Gentilcore, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, to help me devise the plan.
      Modified (or “girlie”) push-ups—which so many of us drop into to up our rep count—were out of the question; they don’t build strength in the full range of up-down motion, so they’re no help. But no need for tons of reps, anyway.
      Some push-up challenges online – you’ll find thousands – will call for 100 push-ups a day, or some that add more to the set every day. Not necessary, according to Gentilcore. Our 30-day push-up challenge called for just 10 pushups each day.
      “Ten is the minimal effective and sustainable dose,” Gentilcore said—meaning, it’s just enough to induce noticeable changes in upper-body strength and appearance without overloading you to the point of quitting. Even then, “take as long as you need—or split them up over the day—to make sure you’re completing high-quality reps,” he told me.
      As someone who works out six days a week, I thought, ten push-ups? No prob—I can knock those out after my workouts or while I’m cooking dinner. But the first few days were unexpectedly tough. Since my typical routine had mostly consisted of exercises like biceps curls and shoulder presses (muscle-isolating moves) and occasional boxing, my upper body parts weren’t used to working together to hoist my body weight. And while this new daily stress on the same muscle groups never left me can’t-wash-my-hair sore, I definitely shook through the end of my set on Friday.
      READ MORE: It’s Time To Try Padel: The New Social Sport Everyone’s Talking About
      30-Day Push-Up Challenge: Finding Momentum
      Still, things turned around fairly quickly: On day one, it took me five minutes (and several breaks) to get through 10 polished, chest-to-the-floor reps. By day 15, it took me under three minutes. On day 30, it took me just 27 seconds. “The more you do something, the better you get at it, because you’re improving communication between your neurons and muscles,” explains Gentilcore.
      Not only did my push-ups become easier, but everything else I did in the gym—planks, ball slams, battle ropes—felt less taxing too. “A lot of people think the best way to measure progress is through brute strength—where you test how much weight you can possibly move for one rep,” he says. “But a far better gauge of progress is whether you’re less fatigued after completing the same amount of work.” Awesome-sauce.
      Now let’s talk about the other kind of progress—the flexed-muscles kind. Did I go from meh muscles to dope guns? Not quite. Turns out, unless you are a genetically blessed muscle gainer, per Gentilcore, 30 days isn’t exactly long enough to develop lasting definition. Muscle growth and fat loss—the combo that lets those babies shine through—usually takes a bit longer, at least six-ish weeks.
      Push-Up Variations
      Try the variations in this video if you’re bored with the run-of-the-mill push-ups:
      [embedded content]
      The Results: Do 30-Day Push-Up Challenges Work?
      What I did see after the month? Noticeably more sculpted shoulders—to the point that my tops started to fit higher up on my chest—and slightly more pronounced biceps and triceps. I also saw a very welcome bonus: flatter abs. “To do a clean push-up, your core has to engage to keep your hips level throughout—hence the tighter stomach.”
      And here’s the best change: When I walked into boxing-meets-HIIT hot spot Rumble last week and had to crank out 30 push-ups, I didn’t spit out an alibi about the previous night’s margs or throw my gloves in the instructor’s face.
      Competence is a crucial ingredient to confidence—which, as Gentilcore puts it, “is the secret to not only maintaining an activity, but also enjoying it.” Perhaps that’s why 15 days post-challenge, I’m still going strong—and not as a punishment, but as a reward.
      This article was originally featured on www.womanshealthmag.com

      READ MORE ON: Fitness Challenge Real Women WH Tests It More

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      in fitness and body

      Meet The First South African Woman To Cross The Finish Line At The World Masters Mountain Running Championships

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      Nicolette Griffioen — the first SA woman to cross the finish at the World Masters Mountain Running Championships (um… whoa!) — is a lover of nature, so it’s no wonder her nickname is “Nature’s child.” And you’re most likely to bump into her running on a mountain… From World Masters Mountain Running Championships to… Nicolette recently ran […] More

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      in health and weelbeing

      “I Took On The OcSober Challenge — And It Totally Changed My Relationship With Alcohol”

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      ex-marketing manager, Lisa Woldendorp, could not imagine hitting the town without some social lubrication. “Nights out with friends involve me averaging six Castle Lites,” explains Lisa. And once she’s got the buzz? “A few tequila shooters follow. And the night often ends with a juicy burger or a steaming plate of hot chips.” Lisa’s diet […] More