A lack of motivation is one of the most common barriers to maintaining an active lifestyle. If you set out on a mission to get in shape, but you’re struggling to stay motivated, don’t panic. Here are some tips and tricks to help you achieve your fitness goals.
Think about why you wanted to start working out
It may be weeks or months since you started exercising more frequently. When life gets hectic and it becomes increasingly difficult to summon up the energy and enthusiasm to get off the couch, it’s easy to lose sight of why you wanted to be more active. If your motivation levels have plummeted, step back in time and think about why you wanted to make changes. Did you want to lose weight? Were you eager to improve your health? Did you want to be able to run around after the kids without getting out of breath? Were you hoping to improve your mental wellbeing and reduce stress? Think about how far you’ve come, and remember why being active was important to you.
Look the part
The way we look has a major bearing on the way we feel. If you’re finding it tough to stay motivated, one way to make exercise more appealing is to ensure you look the part when you go for a run or hit the gym. There is some incredible activewear available today, and you can find amazing outfits at sites like Curves N Combatboots. If you’ve got new gym wear, you’ll want to show it off, and this could be just the push you need to leave the house and go for a run, get your bike out or load an online training session you can follow in the garden.
Picture credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-woman-sitting-on-floor-2413552/
Introduce friendly competition
Human beings are naturally competitive. We tend to try harder and push ourselves when there is somebody breathing down our neck or threatening to reach the finish line first. Introducing a little friendly competition can help you achieve more and make sessions more enjoyable. You can work out with friends or family members or join virtual classes where you can compete against other participants. If you’re flying solo, you can always try and beat the clock and set a new personal best.
Image from https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-woman-doing-exercise-1671217/
Have fun
Some people will roll their eyes when they see the word ‘fun’ anywhere near the word ‘exercise.’ Training can become a chore if it’s dull or monotonous, and this is why it’s so beneficial to vary your sessions, try new things and have fun. You don’t have to spend all your waking hours in the gym or run for miles every day to get in shape. You can dance, hike, cycle, climb or jump your way to improved fitness, you can alternate gym sessions with sports like tennis, swimming, rowing, golf or football, and you can enjoy a change of scenery. Get out and about or work out at home if you don’t fancy going to the gym.
If you’re working towards fitness goals, you might have days when you don’t want to go for a jog or spend hours lifting weights or doing squats. If motivation levels are low, take these tips on board to maximize your chances of hitting your targets.
I always feel so good after a workout. The difficult part is to get to the gym. I find that having a workout buddy does wonders. Enjoyed reading this article.
I always feel amazing after a workout. Once I have established a solid routine I find myself much more motivated to keep going.
I need to get back into a fitness routine. I do find it tough to stick with my goals, and these ideas are helpful.