Physical activity

Reiss Motivation Profile®

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People with a strongly pronounced Physical Activity life motive love movement, physical exertion and activities that require muscle strength. Of course, everyone likes to move, but people with a strongly pronounced life motive Physical Activity feel much more pleasure in doing so than other people.

Many people with a strongly pronounced life motive Physical Activity have an active and energetic lifestyle.

People with a strongly pronounced Physical Activity life motive would be described as energetic, lively, vibrant, and vital. Many value physical strength and endurance. When people with a strongly expressed Physical Activity life motive are less physically active for some time, they may become restless and fidgety. Many certainly enjoy playing sports. Some athletic people are workout fanatics, training their fitness and endurance throughout the year to increase their fitness level.

People with a strong life motive Physical activity prefer an active life. Some people dedicate their lives to sports - whether they become sports professionals or simply avoid sedentary jobs. For many, it's important to keep moving.

People with a strong life motive of physical activity can have different sporting interests. Often professionals work as trainers after their active years. Some people with a strong life motive Physical Activity feel really bad if they do not have enough time to practice their sport. Some love physical chores around their home, such as mowing the lawn.

When people with a strong Physical Activity life motive are stressed or worried, physical activity is the best medicine for them. Physical activity is a powerful way to counteract the damaging effects of stress emotionally and physically.

People with a strong life motive Physical Activity are among those people who overuse their bodies, especially when they are under pressure. Challenging yourself and giving it your all one more time when your body is signaling exhaustion or your muscles have already cramped up can lead to serious injury and make physical activity impossible for an extended period of time. Therefore, it may be advisable, especially for those to whom their condition and fitness are enormously important, that they approach their training program professionally and acquire a certain know-how about the exercises and their effects. They need exercise programs that are both effective and minimize the risk of injury.

People with a strong life motive of physical activity will feel comfortable in a workplace that meets their need for physical strength and endurance. A job in which they find few opportunities for exercise may not satisfy them.

Non-athletic and athletic people tend to misunderstand each other. Many athletic people believe that non-athletic people are lazy and would be happier if they would only get in better shape. Many non-athletic people assume that athletic people overdo it and would be better off if they didn't struggle so much.
Physical activity - low level

People with a low life motive Physical Activity don't particularly like physical exertion and activities that require muscle strength. Of course, everyone likes to exercise, but people with a low life motive Physical Activity feel much less pleasure in doing so than other people.

Particularly in middle age, many people with a low life motive for physical activity prefer a more "sedentary lifestyle". Instead of walking to the grocery store, they take the car. Many like to spend time in front of the television or computer. Some develop into what is known as a "couch potato".

Accordingly, their own well-being can become a challenge for people with a low level of physical activity as a life motive. This is because a lack of exercise is a serious risk factor for health and often causes long-term health problems. In addition, lack of exercise can also bring emotional effects, due to sleep or mood disorders. Physical activity is a critical factor in counteracting the long-term negative physiological effects of stress.

From this health perspective, it is critical that people with a low life motive of Physical Activity find a way to engage in regular physical activity, even if it goes against their natural drive. They may need to make a conscious decision to give their bodies a healthy dose of physical activity. To make this decision, it may seem useful for people with a low physical activity life motive to familiarize themselves with the positive effects of physical activity as well as the negative consequences of physical inactivity. Accordingly, it is important that they address what a good quality of life means to them. After all, everything they will be able to do, how active they can be, how long they will live, how their health will be, how they will age, how they will feel, is also related to keeping their own bodies healthy.

Even though many make a concession to their health and fitness, it is unlikely that they will turn into a fitness fanatic, nor should they strive to do so. It's not like you have to become an amateur runner or a gym freak. It's just a matter of moving the body constantly and repeatedly. That this is done becomes more likely when ways are found to move that combine well with the other needs. For example, if one is a social and outgoing person, it can be fun to join a regular walking group.

Some people with a low life motive of Physical Activity might try to incorporate regular physical activity into their daily lives, there are countless possibilities such as running around with the kids, doing yard work, going golfing (and walking instead of using the golf cart), mowing the lawn, walking the dog, shoveling snow, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking or biking instead of taking the car, etc. For many people with a low life motive of Physical Activity, the likelihood of sticking with an exercise program increases if they incorporate exercise into their daily lives as a matter of course - more so than elaborate fitness programs can do.

For some people who prefer activities they can do while sitting, it can be helpful if they limit themselves by limiting the amount of time they allow themselves to engage in these activities.


Under stress, people with a low life motive Physical activity tend to neglect their exercise routines even more. They then postpone their daily walk, for example, or their time in the gym, and sit around moping at home instead.

People with a low life motive of Physical Activity will feel comfortable in a job that requires little to no physical activity. Conversely, they would not be satisfied in the long run with a job that requires strength, endurance or fitness.

Non-athletic and athletic people tend to misunderstand each other. Many athletic people believe that non-athletic people are lazy and would be happier if they would only get in better shape. Many non-athletic people assume that athletic people are overdoing it and would be better off if they didn't struggle so much.