There's no question that working out can be hard. After all, breaking a sweat and moving your body takes effort. We all know the feeling. We wake up in the morning, and all we want to do is curl up in bed under the covers. But sometimes, even though we know the workout is good for us, finding the motivation to get started is tough.
The idea of going outside to do your workout seems unbearable. It's easy to talk yourself out of it, telling yourself that you'll just workout tomorrow instead. But before you know it, tomorrow has come and gone, and the cycle repeats itself. How can we motivate ourselves to workout when we don't feel like it?
Here are six tips to help you get moving and stick with your fitness routine:
1. Join a gym or community, or find a workout buddy to keep you motivated
It's no secret that working out is hard. It's not just the physical act of moving your body that exhausts you, but also the mental battle of convincing yourself to get off the couch in the first place.
Having someone to go to the gym with can make working out more fun and help keep you accountable. If you don't have any friends interested in joining a gym, there are plenty of other ways to find motivation. There are tons of fitness communities online where you can connect with like-minded people, or you could hire a personal trainer to help keep you on track.
Whatever route you choose, remember that staying motivated is key to reaching your fitness goals. And let's be honest, it's nice to have someone there to commiserate with when you're dragging yourself to the gym at 6 am.
2. Make a plan - know what workouts you're going to do each week and stick to it
Making a plan is the first step to getting in shape, but it's not always easy to stick to it. When you know what workouts you're going to do each week and commit to doing them, it's much harder to hit the snooze button on your alarm clock or talk yourself out of going to the gym.
Having a plan gives you a sense of accountability and can help keep you motivated even when you're tired or uninspired. It gives you a sense of purpose and direction.
So next time you struggle to motivate yourself to work out, try making a plan. You'll be amazed at how motivated you can be. I find it helpful if the plan is "is in my face" all the time, for example you can stick it on the fridge in the kitchen or have sticky notes on your laptop or in the office, that way it would be much harder to procrastinate and ditch the workout.
3. Create healthy goals - I want to lose weight, run a marathon, etc.? Set some tangible goals to work towards
Setting goals is a great way to stay motivated. It gives you something to work towards and helps to keep you focused. However, not all goals are created equal.
In order to be truly effective, your goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. In other words, you should know exactly what you want to achieve, have a plan for how you're going to do it, and make sure that your goal is realistic and within a reasonable timeframe. Once you have set your sights on a goal, it's important to maintain your focus and keep working towards it.
Remember, the only way to reach your goals is by taking consistent action and making gradual progress. So don't get discouraged if you don't see results overnight. Keep moving forward and progressing little by little, and eventually, you'll reach your destination.
Tip: Break down your goals into smaller milestones, this is extremely helpful in keeping you focused and avoid losing interest or motivation. For example: if your goal is to run a marathon, break it down into smaller milestones that are still measurable and achievable, you can start by setting a 5K run by a specific date, then gradually move to 10K and so on. That will give you the feeling of accomplishment and help you keep going to the next milestone.
4. Get dressed in your workout clothes, so you're less likely to back out (proved by us)
I've been trying a new strategy: I get out of bed and put on my workout clothes as soon as my alarm goes off. Even if I'm just going to go back to sleep for another hour, at least I'm already dressed and ready to go when my motivation finally kicks in. And you know what? It's actually been working! Just the act of getting dressed makes me feel like I've already started working out, making it less likely that I'll make up an excuse not to go.
5. Find an exercise that you enjoy and look forward to doing - if you hate running, maybe try swimming or biking instead
The hardest part of working out for most people is just getting started. Once you're actually in the gym or on the trail, it's not so bad. But getting yourself to that point can be a real struggle. That's why it's important to find an exercise you enjoy and look forward to doing.
Maybe you love the feeling of accomplishment after completing a challenging class at the gym. Or perhaps you enjoy the peace and quiet of an early morning run. Whatever it is that gets you moving, make sure to find an activity that you can look forward to so that working out doesn't feel like such a chore.
If you hate running, maybe try swimming or biking instead. And who knows, maybe after a few weeks of swimming laps, you'll be able to hit the ground running after all.
6. Reward yourself after completing a tough workout
There's nothing like the feeling of crossing the finish line after a tough workout. The sense of accomplishment is amazing, and you can't help but feel proud of yourself. But what if I told you that there's a way to make that feeling even better? Rewarding yourself after completing a tough workout can actually motivate you to keep pushing yourself.
It's important to reward yourself after completing a tough workout for several reasons:
1. It helps to motivate you to keep working hard - If you know that there's a delicious treat waiting for you after your next sweat session, you're more likely to push yourself to reach your goals.
2. It helps to improve your self-esteem - Completing a challenging workout can be a great confidence booster, and treating yourself to something special afterward is a great way to capitalize on that boost.
3. It helps to prevent burnout - Working out is important for your physical and mental health, but taking breaks from time to time is also important.
So go ahead and treat yourself to that post-workout massage or that extra slice of cake or some ice-cream. You've earned it!
Rewarding yourself after a tough workout ensures you stay engaged and excited about working out.
BONUS:
Wear stylish workout clothing that make you feel good about yourself
Looking good is the best motivation to hit the gym - or at least that's what we tell ourselves. We invest in stylish workout clothes, trainers, and accessories and ensure our hair is on point before we walk through the gym doors. But does looking good actually make us work out harder?
The answer, according to science, is yes. A study published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise found that people who wore more stylish workout clothes perceived themselves as being more capable of completing a workout than those who wore less stylish gear. In other words, when you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good - you're more likely to want to work out.
Next time you're feeling unmotivated to hit the gym, make sure you treat yourself with a fitness outfit you like. So ditch those old ratty sweats and invest in some new gear that will make you want to hit the gym. You'll be surprised at how much of a difference it makes.
Conclusion:
So, those are our tips for motivating yourself to workout. We hope that at least one of them speaks to you and helps you get up and moving.
Remember, even a little bit of exercise is better than none at all. And the more you do, the easier it becomes. So start small and work your way up. Soon enough, working out will become a habit before you know it. Stick with it, and soon you'll see the results!
Good Luck from all of us at BeneFit!