It really is difficult. There are a lot of good tricks you can play to make yourself do it, you just gotta find which one works for you.

Someone else mentioned having a show that you only watch while exercising. If non-static exercise like running or walking is more your thing, swap that for a podcast or audiobook. (I recommend checking your library’s audiobook programme if they have one, or check out one of the smaller audiobook sellers, before giving money to Amazon’s Audible, if possible.)

Another option is to set yourself a goal. Tell yourself you’re doing a half marathon in six months and actually sign up for it to commit yourself. Or a 60 km bike ride. Or an Olympic distance triathlon. If you want, especially if you’ve already done this trick once or twice and need something a little spicier, add a time goal to that. Do the HM in under 2 hours, the triathlon in under 3, whatever.

The hardest part is often getting out the door. Tell yourself it’s a success if you just put your shoes on and step outside. Once you’re there, its much easier to start running than it is from inside. If it’s still hard, tell yourself you’ll just run to the end of the street and turn back. Once you’re at the end of the street, set a new goal, etc. I find it best not to plan a run that involves multiple laps, because I’m much more likely to end up only doing 5k if I plan on doing 2 laps of a 5k course than if I set out on a 10k single loop.

Have people you train with. Training directly with people is best, and as an added bonus is really healthy mentally in terms of socialising. But failing that you could always find an online group of people, or just a chat group of IRL friends, who check in on each other and hold you accountable.

If whatever exercise you have been doing doesn’t work for you, try something else. If you’re not a runner, hop on a bike. If you don’t enjoy riding, get in the pool. A social team sport like netball, touch footy, or ultimate frisbee could be good, if you can find a friendly non-judgmental group.

If you’re a data nerd and/or the kind of gamer who likes getting all the Steam achievements, buy a Garmin. Try and build up a streak, or watch your time or distance climb the more often you train. Earlier this year I earnt myself the trophy for meeting my step goal 90 days in a row—I had step goal set to automatic, where it increases every time you meet your goal, and decreases if you miss it. Increases more if you overshoot by a lot.

You could plan out some GPS artwork and ride or run a route that draws something cool. You may need to train up to be able to achieve the distance, if your artwork is more ambitious.

That’s just a few of the tricks I have used at varying times to varying degrees of success to help keep up my exercise habit.