How to Stay Motivated to Exercise—Even When You’re Not Feeling Like It
We all have days when the couch looks a lot more appealing than any workout mat. Staying motivated can be a bit of a challenge, especially when you’re just starting out or you have had a tough therapy session.
Motivation is never something you have or don’t have. It is definitely something you have to create.
Set Goals
One way that you can stay motivated is to set goals that will actually excite you. It could be being able to climb stairs without getting winded, or being able to fit into your favorite pair of jeans.
Creating a routine will also help too. You should try to exercise at the same time each day. This way it will become a habit, just like brushing your teeth.
Morning workouts are amazing because they get the job done early. While evening workouts can help to relieve a lot of stress after a long day.
You should start small. If the idea of a 45-minute workout feels too overwhelming for you.
Then you should commit to just 10 minutes. Often, once you get started, you’ll want to just keep going.
Make sure you track your progress and celebrate your small wins. If you work out three times this week then it is worth celebrating. If you hold a plank for 30 seconds longer than last time then that is a lot of progress.
Do What You Love
Make sure that you find activities that you truly enjoy. You don’t have to stick to just running and lifting weights. You should try dancing, swimming, and even hiking. The more fun you have, the more likely you are to want to just keep going.
Mix things up a bit so as to prevent boredom. Change your playlist when you can, or try a new workout video. Consider exploring a different walking route.
Always surround yourself with positive influences as much as possible. Follow fitness accounts, and join a community. You can even partner with a friend. Encouragement and accountability can go a long way.
Embrace Proper Nutrition
Make sure you fuel your body well whenever you can. Proper nutrition and hydration is going to help you to feel energized and ready to make moves.
Some people also explore supplements to help them with recovery and motivation. Products like ibutamoren have been discussed in fitness spaces because of the potential benefits that can help with fitness goals. This is something you should explore.
Reward Yourself
You might also want to create a reward system for yourself. This could be a new workout outfit after completing 10 sessions. You may also decide to treat yourself to a massage after you hit your monthly goal.
Always be kind to yourself. Did you skip a workout? That’s okay. It doesn’t erase all of your progress. Just get back on track the next day if you can.
Motivation may not always be there, but when you start building habits, and stay flexible, a positive mindset will carry you through all the ups and downs you may encounter on your fitness journey.
Keep Track of Progress
Another effective way that you can stay motivated is to make sure that you track your progress visually. You can do this with a workout calendar, or a fitness journal.
Try out a habit-tracking app, so you can see your consistency over time. This can be a very powerful motivator. Even marking an “X” on the calendar every time you have a successful workout day gives you a sense of accomplishment that is going to help build momentum.
Visualizing your goals can also make a huge difference. You should try creating a vision board or even writing a short paragraph about what you want to achieve in your fitness journey. Re-reading it when your motivation starts to go low can reignite your enthusiasm. It will remind you why you started your workout routine in the first place.
Change It Up
Changing up your environment can also re-energize your workouts as well. If you usually exercise indoors, then try taking your session outside and soaking up some fresh air. Cheek put a new view, or even a different playlist. This can refresh your routine and make it feel less like you are doing a chore. The novelty will help your brain stay engaged.
Once you do all the things that have been discussed here you’re well on your way to creating a fitness routine that will see you reaching your goals. It’s all about mindset. Everything starts in your mind before you can start to see results in the exterior.