How do I get motivated to work out?

Your Question: First a little background: I am 31 years old, Bi-polar disorder, deal with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. I was doing well enough from 2012 to 2016 but then fell off completely, being very flimsy on my meds and I've gotten out of shape but lately I've gotten a bit better. However I'm still a bit rusty, my sleep schedule is hard to correct and although I'm eating well, not feeling depressed, I'm still not consistent with work outs. How do I become motivated so that I can follow a solid and disciplined regiment and incorporate my activities into my daily schedule?

Hi! Thank you for your question. First, congratulations that you are doing better lately! I fully embrace the idea of celebrating our wins any size at all! First of all as bad as you may think it is that you aren’t doing your personal best right now, the fact that you are doing as well as you say you are is amazing!!! Look what we have all just been through! If you want to correct your sleep schedule and get motivated to work out more here’s what I suggest and they are things that I do as well. Make sure you go to sleep every night (as much as your schedule allows) and wake up most mornings at the same time. This will help get you on a solid sleep schedule. If your goal is to work out 4 times a week make a schedule at the beginning of the week as to what your work outs are going to entail for that week. Tell yourself you will do it 6 days and if you’re lucky you will end up doing 3 or 4. I keep track of my work outs by putting a note in my calendar in my phone.. If I ride the bike I put a P and if I go to the gym I put what work out I did there, so next time I go I’ll know what I need to do this time. I have no magic to help you get motivated all I can say is what works for me. I think about how I will feel after I’m done with my work out and it’s alway amazing! If I don’t work out daily I do feel a bit down and lethargic. It’s been my medicine since I was 15. Lastly try to find a work out you like. Is it the gym? tennis, soccer or riding a bike? If you can do what you love it won’t feel like working out it will seem like fun. I enjoy the gym and riding a bike and it feels good to my body as well. Hope this helps, good luck!!!