Four Questions to Help find YOUR fitness

The holy grail of fitness has always been the same question: how do we motivate people to exercise, especially those who don’t want to?

I was recently interviewed for a feature on Medium alongside other professionals, all trying to unpack that very question and explore what actually drives lasting motivation in clients and I would like to share that here.

I like to encourage personalization as the lever, not persuasion. When people identify WHY they feel best. If that is movement, curiosity, creation, or connection they can match outdoor experiences to those intrinsic drivers. Someone who restores energy through solitude will respond to a sunrise walk; a social refueler might prefer a group hike or pickup game; a creative personality might be drawn to outdoor photography or gardening. The strategy is to translate self-knowledge into environment enjoyment. Show them that the outdoors isn't a setting, it's a medium that amplifies what already sustains them. Once activity aligns with temperament, participation stops needing motivation and starts becoming more. When a client comes to me and needs to shake up their routine I will often ask them to answer the following questions to themselves.

1. When you feel drained, which kind of effort feels most natural movement, conversation, creation, or solitude? (Reveals energy source: physical, social, expressive, or reflective.)

2. Which feeling tells you a day was well spent calm, pride, curiosity, or connection? (Identifies your internal definition of fulfillment.)

3. When you lose track of time, what are you usually doing? (Exposes flow states worth recreating intentionally.)

4. What type of challenge makes you sharper instead of tired technical precision, human interaction, artistic risk, or strategic problem-solving? (Distinguishes between stress that fuels growth and stress that corrodes it.) T

hese have been incredibly effective. They promote growth without the guesswork no blind dart throwing, just deliberate experience. The process also helps people gauge how far they actually want to step into something new, easing anxiety and reinforcing progress with real, positive feedback.