Everybody, no matter how passionate they may be about what they’re doing, needs a motivation boost from time to time. The truth is that motivation can be really difficult to find. Yes, once you’re at the gym, ready for your workout, things come naturally. However, getting the motivation to go there is the tough part, especially during the fall and winter months. And let’s face it! Cute gym clothes can motivate you up to a point. After that, you’re on your own. This is why, in this article, we will show you how to stay motivated for your workout routine, regardless of your mood, time of the year, and anything else that might keep you away from the gym.
1. Keep Track of Your Goals!
Regardless of your preference when it comes to working out, be it yoga, weightlifting, indoor cycling, or running, finding the necessary motivation to get up and work out is oftentimes a huge struggle. This is why keeping track of your goals and fighting to accomplish them, one step at a time, is a good idea. Take a notebook and write down your gym schedule, your main goals, and the reasons behind those goals.
For instance, many people exercise because they want a healthier lifestyle, but that goal can be rather vague. You need to break down a major goal, like leading a healthy lifestyle, into smaller, actionable bits or mini-goals, like working out three times a week for a month. Next, keep track of those goals by writing down specific positive changes that you can observe after a month of working out.
If you your master goal is building muscle or sleeping better at night, write down how far you’ve come and how long you still need to go. This routine will not only help you keep track of what you need to do, but it will also motivate you to finally do it.
2. Share Your Intentions with People Who Can Motivate You!
Another important way to keep yourself motivated to work out is telling your trusted loved ones what your plan is, along with your gym schedule. This doesn’t mean annoying all your friends with these details of your life, but make sure that, at all times, there are people around you who will push you to finish what you’ve begun.
However, don’t tell them your goals, only your plans! In fact, it seems that we are a lot more likely to follow through with a plan if we tell our peers about it. Also, ask them to check up on you if they think you are not going to the gym or working out as planned. What other motivation do you need when you have friends telling you to do what you need to do because it is what you set out to do?
3. Mix Your Workouts!
Once more, a strict workout routine is not always enough to keep you motivated since it can get boring. So, if you feel like you’re losing some of your motivation mojo, you should immediately vary your workouts. There are countless ways to work out differently including signing up to a different class such as the WarriorBabe BluePrint or Blogilates’ Pop Pilates, just to put the spark back in your routine. In addition, a new routine will keep you challenged and motivated to do better and better.
For example, if you usually do high-intensity workouts, try some relaxing yoga classes instead. Also, if you like weightlifting, go for an intense cardio workout from time to time, like spinning. Are you concerned that indoor cycling might hurt your joints you can always check out some indoor cycling facts and online guides to get you started. Don’t let anything stop you! Mixing your workouts is also good for your progress because it keeps your muscles guessing and your mind interested.
4. Create a Reward System!
A reward system is a very useful thing to have up your sleeve when the situation turns monotonous. Before a boring workout, think about giving yourself a reward that will motivate you enough to get up and start working out. Anything from a relaxing bubble bath or a nice dinner to a piece of your favorite cake or new clothes can motivate you to keep pushing.
Visualize your reward while you are at the gym and you’ll notice that your workout will be a lot more effective while it will also feel great. However, don’t always do this because you’re not a dog that needs constant training and rewards to get things done. Try this method only when you feel truly down and unmotivated.
5. Watch Reruns of Your Favorite Shows!
As weird and unrelated to physical exercise as it may seem, watching reruns of your favorite TV shows or movies has been recently proven to help most people get more motivated, according to a study by the University of Buffalo. Moreover, it may even boost your morale and give you the energy to finally go to the gym to work out. However, only watch one episode at a time before exercising because if you allow yourself to binge-watch Friends, this method will definitely become useless.
6. Keep Your Workout Gear Where You Can See It!
This one is very simple. Do you want to gain some extra motivation to work out, even if it is in the comfort of your own home? Place your workout gear right where you can always see it, by the TV or near your desk or bed if possible. Your exercise mat should have a bright color, so you can see it no matter what your other plans are. Want to sleep? Here’s that mat looking at you! Feel like watching TV and not working out? There it is again, staring back at you. Stick a pair of googly eyes to it if you must, but don’t ignore what you have to do! You’ll see how fast motivation will return when you always have your workout gear lurking and waiting to be used.
Conclusion
All in all, it looks like finding the motivation to keep pushing with your workout routine can be a real struggle, especially when the weather is not nice or when you simply don’t feel like going out. It is for situations like these that our tips can work wonders. Everybody has their bad days, but the trick is to do something to change that instead of persisting in that mood. So, with a little bit of imagination, everything can be successfully completed, even your workout routine.
Guest post: Luke S. Mitchell is an MS Undergraduate in Sports Journalism and manager of Exercise Bikes Expert. He is interested not only in the mind-body relationship and how motivation shapes our bodies but also in how we draw energy just from one simple yet powerful thought. You can find him on Facebook and Twitter.
