Here is an article I wrote for the company, Globe Of Love on how one can easily motivate themselves to start something, such as runnning. This company is an online magazine that provides inspiration and positive messages around the globe for everyone.

Starting to smoke at 16 meant that in my final years of school, I wasn’t really a fan of sports. I would prefer to say to my teacher, “I had period cramps” or hide in an abandoned classroom and gossip instead. Pre 16 years old, I was good at an array of sports- not a member of any team but happy to lead aerobic sessions and attend dance classes. But post 16, I had lost motivation and learnt “sports wasn’t cool”. Only recently did I decide to involve myself in sports again. Downgrading from Chain smoker to “occasionally when I have a drink” smoker means that my lungs are ever so thankful for doing so, making  the thought of exercise much less daunting.

Yes, exercise is daunting for anyone who hasn’t done so in a while but like anything, exercise just takes time and practice. It is down to your own individual effort rather than anyone else’s. No one else can get you out of bed at 7am to go for a run apart from yourself – or a well-paid personal trainer. And although it may be seen as a small step, it is the hardest step to do. And believe me, it is hard to do so at times but it is worthwhile when you reach that goal you didn’t think you could achieve. It helps to run by setting targets. How far you want to go or how long to run for, as it gives you ambitions and drive, which allows you to focus your energy on a set goal where you can push your mind, body and soul to achieve that target, no matter how small or big it is.  From running 3k, to 5k, to 10k for charity, I am now aiming to run half a marathon. Just because I know I am able to push my body to do so.

But some people claim they can’t last more than ten minutes, others claim they don’t see the point in it. This can be quite rightly illustrated by Ron from “Anchorman” on the subject of jogging, “Apparently you just run for an extended period of time.” Most runners don’t even know why they do it, why they get themselves out of bed earlier than others or after a long day at work shove on their trainers and run.

For me it is a variety of reasons. Yes I know it’s healthy and I feel a better person for it. Yes it gives me energy meaning I am less tired (Oddly as it is running 10k does give you energy.), and it soothes my mind. But, the main reason why I run is: to escape. For that hour in that day I plug into my music, and I take the time to see the environment around me. I listen to music loudly and focus on the lyrics. I control my breathing to avoid stich. I think about worries I haven’t had the time to think about and face them full on. I plan outfits and occasions. Sometimes I just think about nothing. And running has this magical calming effect on me that very little else in the world has. Most of the time I’m motivating myself. Motivating myself to put one foot in front of the other, to not get bored and give up, to run up a hill I can’t see the top of. Why? Because it’s fun dare I say it, (I will never say that before a run of course).

There are a number of reasons why people run and why people don’t run. “I don’t have enough time”, “I don’t do exercise”, “I can’t run”, all of these reasons are excuses. Make time for yourself to run, motivate yourself to do exercise, and train yourself to be able to put one foot in front of the other. You can do it, anyone can. Even an ex heavy smoker who runs in Nike High Tops. Don’t think about what you can’t achieve but rather what you can achieve. Great things take time and so take those small steps in the right direction. Motivate yourself and you can do the unexpected.