You know you need to eat right and exercise to feel your best. But when the gym feels like a constant obligation – always at the back of your mind – it’s easy to lose momentum and quit before you even begin.
So how can you motivate yourself to get moving? You can trust in the power of positive thinking, but even the most optimistic people have their limits. Try these seven tips instead.
1. Remember That Fitness Is a Choice
Everyone has the same 1,440 minutes in a day, and you decide what to do with each second. You may not consciously make that choice — but you can when you practice awareness. Fit people don’t have more time than you do, but they often budget what they have more efficiently.
Instead of scrolling through social media when you have a 10-minute work break, get up and walk around the block. You’ll boost your productivity by getting oxygen-rich blood flowing to your brain. You’ll alleviate stress as well.
2. Make Your Workout Fun
Who says you have to plod on a treadmill like a hamster to get fit? Find something you adore doing! From yoga to spin, you can find a host of group fitness classes to try. You can even skip the gym membership and take boutique classes on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Did you just open your wallet to find nothing but mothballs? No problem! Dock your iPhone, put on your favorite jams and dance around the living room with your children. You can also get your groove on while you vigorously clean your house, getting two things done at once.
3. Give Yourself a Reward
Working out is its own reward, but sometimes you need more than endorphins to get you going. Treat yourself to a smoothie when you finish or unwind with an episode of your favorite TV show.
It’s okay to be a couch potato after you get your heart pumping.
4. Phone a Friend
It’s more difficult to skip the gym when you have to explain to someone else why you’re not showing up. Yes, sometimes you may get stuck working late, but do you need to finish that memo when you have other plans?
Sweating it up with a friend or two helps you commit to a regimen. It holds you accountable for showing up and entails negative consequences — a bummed-out friend — when you bail.
5. Try Something New
Are you stuck in the same old routine? No wonder you consider working out a chore and not something to look forward to. Even if you adore your regular Zumba instructor, take a HIIT or cardio kickboxing class now and again to mix things up.
Don’t confine yourself to either lifting weights or running. You have a range of options to choose from, regardless of your energy levels. If you’re a bit more reserved and contemplative, give tai chi a go.
6. Do a Little Retail Therapy
Buying yourself workout gear isn’t an indulgence — it’s an investment in your health. Plus, manufacturers have finally woken up and created clothing for every body shape and size. Purchase a new pair of leggings or sweet tank top you can’t wait to flex your biceps in.
Then, get dressed in your new gear. Simply donning your workout garb mentally prepares you for exertion. Remember that all of your hard work will pay off soon enough.
7. Reflect on All the Benefits
You know that exercise benefits your body. It improves your cardiovascular endurance and decreases your chance of heart attack and diabetes. It also helps you maintain a healthy weight and increase your mobility.
However, exercise offers more than physical benefits. Research shows working out boosts mental health as effectively as medications in some cases. Additionally, hitting the gym helps diffuse negative emotions. If you cherish your co-workers and don’t want to hit them with a steel chair, WWE-style, you can take your frustrations out on a punching bag worry-free.
Yes, You Can Motivate Yourself to Work Out
Getting yourself motivated to sweat it up proves tricky when you’re tired or feeling lazy. However, by following the tips above, you can improve your fitness and work past the mental blocks which have been keeping you back.
Author Bio:
Dylan Bartlett writes about fitness, health and similar topics on his site, Just a Regular Guide. Check it out for similar articles on exercise, or follow Dylan on Twitter @theregularguide for frequent updates!