Originally published on allpeers.com

A lot of people set fitness goals, but many fall short. One of the main reasons this happens, according to Jako Hall, is a lack of motivation.

Getting fit and staying fit is not easy. If it were, everyone would be able to do it without a problem. Luckily, there are ways that you can boost your enthusiasm for exercise so you can stay on track and reach your goals.

Below are some of the best ways you can get on track and stay on track so you can reach your fitness goals.

Create Written Goals

It’s always important to set goals. It gives you something definitive to work toward, which helps keep you on track.

Goals are easy to set, but they aren’t always easy to keep working toward. One great way to solve that is to write them down.

Having goals written down gives you something concrete to refer back to while you’re on your fitness journey. Make sure to read them every day to reinforce what you’re working for. Make sure your goals are quantifiable and specific, as that will make them more achievable.

Track Progress

Once these goals are set, it’s important to track the progress you’re making toward achieving them. If you don’t have an objective way of defining your progress, then it can be difficult to stay motivated to stay on track.

If a goal was to lose 10 pounds in three months, simply keeping a journal where you record your updated weight can help. If your goal was to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, a similar written journal is a great idea.

If you find that you’re not meeting your goals or not making as much progress as you’d like, you can refer back to these journals to see what you might be doing wrong or what you might need to adjust, if anything.

Find a Trigger

Many times, people are motivated to start working out by a specific trigger.

This could be a doctor telling us that our cholesterol is high or that we have high blood pressure. It could be stepping on a scale and realizing we’ve gained more weight than we thought. It could be as simple as being winded walking up steps or not being able to fit into our favourite pair of pants.

Whatever it is, these triggers are important to note — and remember. There are going to be times during your fitness journey when you may lose your motivation. Referring back to the original trigger in your mind can help you stay motivated when you’re not feeling up to it.

Have Support

One of the best ways to stay motivated to reach your fitness goals is to have a support network in place. This doesn’t have to be a workout partner, though it certainly could be.

As Jako Hall explains, your support group could just be a small group of family and friends who all know your fitness goals and help keep you motivated to achieve them. These people can help to encourage you when you’re feeling down or if you hit a proverbial wall.

Sometimes, simply verbalizing your fitness goals to others can hold you accountable to them. No one likes to disappoint people they love.

About Jako Hall

Jako Hall is an experienced mariner and a former naval officer known for his strong work ethic and ability to lead and motivate crews. He pursued Maritime Studies at the University of Technology in Cape Town and has received the highest level of training in Navigation and Seamanship during his years in the Navy. After 13 distinguished years in the Navy, Jako joined the superyacht industry, following his passion for creating unique and exclusive experiences for high-net-worth clients. He’s managed multi-million euro projects that required attention to detail and efficiency and has a proven track record of operating at sea in remote and unsupported areas.