Don't Like Working Out? Here’s How to Make Your Fitness Journey More Enjoyable

Setting long-term goals such as losing 50 pounds, making a sports team or preparing for regular military or special operations training is not easy, especially at first. It helps when you enjoy the journey.

Here is a great question that reminds me of the passion it takes to do hard things:

Stew, thanks for your training ideas. I have found these workouts very different from my sports training as a teenager, but I love them. Do you need to love the process as much as the goal to see success, especially in challenging training programs like Special Ops? I would like your thoughts on whether I am in the right mindset. Thanks for everything. Steven

Falling in love with the process is essential to achieving the goal's physical requirements and building the right mindset for anything that takes time to evolve and prepare. Over different eras throughout your life, you may have enjoyed going to practice before and after school, working out on your own to make a sports team, or seeing results in the mirror after several months of adding fitness to your life.

It's like the old saying, "Motivation gets you started, but discipline keeps you going." Face it: It is much easier to get motivated and stay disciplined if you love the process. The goal is just the cherry on top.

For those of you who have not quite grasped the importance of both trusting and loving the process, here are three powerful ways to cultivate a process that you can trust and love:

First, build habits that allow you to embrace the daily rituals that contribute to your success. Whether honing your skills in practice or dedicating time to fitness, these steps are the building blocks. You will find that if you want to achieve the goal you set for yourself, you will start to enjoy the grind of it all. Each session, each rep becomes a celebration of progress.

Second, set mini-goals along the way. Some goals take years to achieve. Become shortsighted and focused on what you can control now, such as your daily schedule, nutrition and sleep, and ensure you have the energy to work most of the busy day. Break your larger objectives into smaller, manageable targets that keep you motivated as you see small, incremental progress. As you conquer these smaller goals, your enthusiasm will build momentum, reinforcing your love for the process.

Lastly, cultivate a supportive environment. Surround yourself with good teammates who share your goals and can encourage you on this journey. Whether it's friends, family or teammates, their energy and support will enhance your experience and deepen your connection to the process. You will find that you come home after a hard workout and are excited to tell them about it.

Before I wrote this article, I asked my wife, who was my girlfriend when I was training for SEAL training, whether I seemed to enjoy the process 30+ years ago. She recalled that I would come in high after workouts every day, and when we went out, I did not drink alcohol. I took my training and recovery equally seriously. Every transformative process is complex, but you find ways to enjoy it, even if it takes years.

As you pivot your focus from the destination to the journey, you will discover that the process becomes a source of inspiration, leading to sustained motivation, discipline and resilience. The true rewards lie in the sweat and hard work that pave your way to success.

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