How can we learn to enjoy sports without having to compete all the time?

The joy of physical activity is primarily dependent on our attitude. How to enjoy training? 

Proper motivation 

The key to enjoying sports is good motivation to do things. As in every other aspect of life, so in sports, our activity is determined by the attitude with which we approach the task at hand.

There can be several motivations for regular sports, and what’s more, they can change over the course of successive activities. At the initial stage, we are most often motivated by the desire to take care of our health or the desire to achieve the figure of our dreams. With training, the motivation may become the desire to overcome one’s limitations and systematically improve one’s skills.

In the context of motivation for sports, there is also often an element of competition. However, it is worth remembering that this is only a part of sports, which personally does not have to concern us at all. After all, defeating the opponent is only the result of our preparation and intensive training. Moreover, experts argue that the toughest opponent in any sport, regardless of the level of practice, is ourselves. It is overcoming ourselves, getting out of our comfort zone and breaking our own records that is often the most laborious and demanding.

Choosing a discipline 

Another element that makes up the enjoyment of sports is the proper selection of the discipline to be practiced. This process looks different for everyone and may take a little longer. When choosing a physical activity, it is worth considering your own interests. If one does not enjoy running, it is obvious that training based on this type of exercise will not give joy. Those looking for tranquility and improved muscular fitness in sports should better find themselves in yoga. 

There are several varieties of particular sports, and it is worth trying out several types so as to choose the one that best suits our needs. When deciding to start systematic training, it is also good to assess our capabilities, not only physically, but also financially or in terms of time. It is also important to realistically implement training goals, that is, to be able to weave physical activity into our daily lifestyle.

Monitoring progress 

An effective solution for reducing the sense of competition in sports is to keep a training diary. Observing one’s own progress, the changes occurring not only in the body, but also in the actual numbers helps one realize that one does not need rivalry to achieve good results, but only diligence, regularity and willingness. 

Modern technological solutions allow you to track and record the results of each workout in almost any discipline, so keeping your own statistics is not demanding. Monitoring one’s own progress can be especially helpful in crisis moments. A reminder that you once overcame a similar distance, weight or obstacle can help you find motivation and show that surpassing yourself is an integral part of any workout. 

main photo: unsplash.com/John Arano