In the early phases of lockdown, the streets were teeming with runners, and living rooms were a blur of uncoordinated star jumps and lunges. In fact, physical activity levels in the United Kingdom peaked around mid-to-late May, just before lockdown restrictions began to be eased. Now, after months of fluctuating social restrictions, many people are reporting on social media that they’ve suddenly lost their motivation to exercise.
The truth is that motivation is simply returning to normal. Weather in the UK was ideal for exercise in April and May, and many of us had more time available to squeeze in a workout. Two major barriers to exercise were removed. Usually, motivation is a battle of different choices. In normal circumstances, exercise fights against many other appealing leisure pursuits, such as going to the pub, the cinema, or spending time with friends. But during the most severe part of the national lockdown, the choice was either to go outside for exercise or stay home all day. The motivational odds shifted in favor of exercise.
