The ol’ nine to five. Nothing like a hard day’s work. It’s nice to have a routine, a steady paycheck. But by the time I get home, I’m done for the day. It’s either vegging out in front of the TV with Pretty Little Liars (not my choice, but at this point I kind of want to know what’s up with “A”) or sitting around working on art projects. Either way, I just don’t have the energy to get my 30. I know I need it. I want to get it. I love hiking, cycling, and playing sports, but when you’re out of energy you’re out.

That’s where partners come in. My partner in everything is my wife. She constantly motivates me. Whether she’s teaching me new yoga poses (she’s basically a yoga master at this point) or just asking if I’ll go on a walk with her, she gives me more reason to be active. Having someone to do things with makes them more enjoyable. Having someone to challenge you, and maybe even compete with you, helps keep you going. We do everything together, so I always know I’ll have someone doing those down dogs with me.

It isn’t just at home that I have partners pushing me on. At work, we’re doing a wellness challenge. Everyone who wanted to participate made a weekly goal for each month and posted it on a board. If we meet our goal, we check our box, and at the end of the month there are little prizes. Do I worry that I’ll be the only one without all his check marks at the end of the month? Maybe a little . . . but we’re all super supportive of each other, and it feels good not only to check my box, but to congratulate others on checking their boxes, too. That partnership between us helps motivate me to get moving during the day and meet my wellness goals each week. 

Having friends with similar wellness goals is a great way to stay motivated, too. My friend “Raptor” and I love video games, and sometimes we may go a little long in our sessions of conquering the online world, but we both want to get in better shape. Whether he’s calling me to play ultimate frisbee or I’m calling him to go for a bike ride, I know there’s someone I can hang out with who is going to push me to stay active. Since we both have weekends off, he helps keep me in check when I could really just waste the day lying around.

Of course, I can’t forget my best bud. He keeps me more active than anyone. When I come home, throw down the briefcase, and plop down on the couch, I get a serious wake-up call. Wolfy’s been cooped up all day, and it’s time for a walk or a run at the dog park. Yeah, there are some downsides to owning one of the most energetic dog breeds in the world, but at least I’ll always have a personal trainer keeping me on my toes!

These are just some of the relationships in my life that have helped support me in being active and living well. If you’re struggling to stay motivated, turn to friends, family, pets, co-workers, or anyone else in your life and either challenge them or tell them your goals. Find the support system that works for you and you’ll find it’s easier than you thought to stay active.