If you are finding that you are struggling to keep motivation with changes to your physical activity and maintain a consistency to improved health, here is a little insight into why this may be happening.
There are generally three main areas that influence our behaviour. First is the genetic influence. How does our genome from our parents influence our behaviour? Are we mainly healthy and handle exercise well, or do we not have that natural fitness?
Secondly is the societal influence and society normalities, which entail what our social groups do and see as standard, or even cultural beliefs and expectations.
Thirdly, our characteristics and socialisation. Regarding exercise, are we more likely to be consistent and happy to exercise?
All three of these behavioural influences can be constructive, destructive, or reconstructive to our health and physical activity.
Theory of planned behaviour and a self-assessment
The theory of planned behaviour was first proposed in 1998 by Icek Ajzen and suggested a link between our own beliefs and the action it either encourages or discourages.
The first element is our attitude towards a behaviour. The second is the subjective norms of that behaviour. The third is behavioural control.
If we have an attitude that we do not enjoy physical activity, this is a negative attitude. If we know that there will be benefits to our health and we will feel more energetic, this is two positive attitudes.
Subjective norms have two parts. If we have support from family, friends, and others, we see that as a positive. If these people do not undertake physical activity themselves, then this can be a negative.
Our behavioural control can be if we feel we can undertake physical activity, which is a positive. If there is a gym local and it is affordable, then these are also positives.
Overall we end up with two negatives but six positives. Even though we do not like physical activity, we would be more likely to start the behaviour and be consistent than not.
Try this as a self-assessment of your physical activity. Was it a positive, neutral or negative outcome?
Next week we will cover another theory of changing our behaviour and what is physical activity. If you would like more information, email David at dhandl@bigpond.net.au.
Have a great week.
David