Ways To Boost Your Workout Motivation
Have you ever found yourself feeling unmotivated to work out? Have you ever felt like you need to get the results from your workouts that you want? Unfortunately, there are a lot of reasons why people need to get workout motivation.
Everyone loves a good workout, but it takes work to stay motivated. Between the gym fees, time away from work and family commitments, keeping up with your regular exercise routine can take time and effort.
Well, there is no single magic trick for motivating yourself to work out-it takes time, effort and dedication (and maybe even some extra motivation).
How To Improve Your Workout Motivation?
According to studies, regular exercise affects the brain to enhance memory and intellectual abilities. If you’re using the excuse that it takes too much time away from work to go to the gym, think of your workout as a part of your workday. You’re making your brain smarter at work.
How can you fit your workout plans into your everyday life once you’ve prioritized your health goals and want to give yourself the gift of consistent exercise routines?
Here are eight ways to boost your workout motivation to start feeling fit again.
Get A Workout Buddy (Or Buddies)
Invite someone over for some pool time after work (or even better: take them out of town), or invite them over for some games. The point here isn’t necessarily who won the round but rather how much fun everyone had while staying active together.
You should exercise with a partner or group of friends who can help you stay motivated and accountable to your goals. If you’ve never exercised before, starting slowly and building up your stamina as you get used to the activity is important. You must ensure that whoever joins in on this journey will be supportive and encouraging, not just someone who wants their way.
Make A Plan
You can make a plan for the day and follow it, or let things happen as they will. It’s up to you! But if you decide on a plan, make sure it works for YOU. For example:
- Write down what time your workout will start and end every day.
- Don’t deviate from this schedule if possible—you might be exhausted later in the day because of all the extra work that wasn’t planned for beforehand (like getting groceries).
- Only make big changes regularly; otherwise, people will think you can only commit to something short-term.
- Try jogging or running in place while watching TV—you’ll barely notice that you’re exercising because you’re so caught up in what’s happening on-screen.
If you’re busy and have difficulty finding time to exercise, get an alarm clock and put it by your bedside. When the alarm goes off, get up immediately (don’t hit snooze!) and take a quick walk around the block.
Set Realistic Goals
Setting goals is a great way to boost your workout motivation. Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable and realistic. A good goal focuses on what you want to accomplish in the long term (i.e., not just today).
Your goal should also be timely—you want it to give you workout motivation throughout your daily life. So that when the time comes for it to happen, all those hours spent working toward your new fitness routine will have been worth it.
Sometimes, setting goals can be tough—especially if they’re too ambitious or far out of reach. So take a moment before setting any big ones to know exactly where this journey is going. And how far along each step will take you before returning to those mountains again (and once again).
Hang on To Your Workout Motivation Reasons
- Keep a list of your reasons why you want to work out.
- Please write down your reasons daily and read them at the end of each workout session.
- Put this list somewhere where you’ll see it every day, such as on your phone or in an orange
- Post-It note on the refrigerator door.
- Remind yourself that these are all things that make YOU happy.
Find New Ways To Do The Same Old Things
If you feel stuck in your workouts, it’s time to shake things up. Here are some ideas:
- Try a new class. New options are always out there if your current routine is getting hard.
- Try a new trainer or instructor. You might be surprised by how much they can help push you to further heights of fitness.
- Try different equipment—a TRX suspension trainer or an Airdyne bike will give you some new ways of working out that will keep things interesting and challenging without requiring immense amounts of space or money (and they won’t hurt your back).
- Switch up where/when/how often/what kind of workout gear and accessories work best for you. This way, you can get your chance at success.
Reframe Negative Thoughts
Negative thoughts are a natural part of the human experience, but they can be destructive if you let them run your life. When you have negative thoughts about yourself or others, it’s important to reframe them, so they don’t affect your actions.
Identify your negative self-talk patterns:
The first step is identifying when and where these patterns occur so you can begin breaking them down. For example, sometimes you hear yourself saying, “I’m not good enough”, or “I should have done better.” These statements aren’t true—they’re just unhelpful ways of looking at things.
Suppose you notice yourself repeating these phrases (and then wondering why my life isn’t going well). Then, you should ask yourself: “What would happen if I stopped saying those words?”
In some cases, this question will lead directly toward changing behaviour patterns (e.g., maybe instead of blaming yourself about how much weight you’ve gained, you see a positive change). This will help boost confidence.
Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone
If you’re feeling stuck, try something new. It might be as simple as trying a different workout class or finding a new time of day to work out. Or maybe you should try an entirely new type of exercise or even take up running.
Even if your first idea doesn’t work out, don’t give up on yourself. You never know what kind of growth will come from permitting yourself to push past your comfort zone. After all, every positive experience brings us closer to becoming who we want and need to be in this world.
So what are you waiting for? Find your passion, and go after it! It’s out there, waiting for you to discover it.
Give Yourself a Break
When you’re working out, you may get frustrated with yourself or your performance But remember: You don’t have to be perfect. If you make a mistake in the gym, don’t blame yourself for it. The best thing you can do is take a break when needed and move on from there.
If you want more from your workouts than they currently offer, try taking on challenges that will challenge your body and mind. Like, as completing an entire workout without stopping (or even pausing) between sets of exercise movements or exercises; or challenging yourself by doing more reps than usual at each movement phase of an exercise routine (such as pushups).
Motivate Yourself to Workout Without Making Extraordinary Changes
One of the biggest reasons people don’t work out is that they don’t feel like working out. They’re tired, busy, or just not in the mood. But if you want to improve your health and fitness levels, you can adopt some simple ways to motivate yourself without making some extraordinary changes.
You don’t have to give up everything you enjoy—or do boring exercises for hours at a time. Suppose you feel like you need more workout motivation than ever simply because exercise is new for you (or even if it isn’t). Think about what activities are part of your daily routine already: work. Commute? Running errands? Cooking dinner? These things might seem irrelevant, but they can help keep your body healthy while providing pleasure and relaxation during those long hours away from home.
Bonus Tip
If you want to improve your exercise routine, most experts recommend drinking lots of water. There are many ways to get more water into your body, but the easiest is simply drinking. Drinking water is good for keeping you hydrated and helps increase your muscle strength and energy. Water also helps your body to recover after a workout. It can help keep you cool, especially during the hot summer months. Drinking water can also help improve your overall health and prevent illnesses such as dehydration or heat exhaustion.
Conclusion
Workout motivation will be much simpler to achieve if you consider it a gift you give to yourself rather than a chore you must complete. Consider your health and energy. By working out, you are prioritising yourself and doing it from the point of love for yourself.
It’s important to remember that motivation is a journey. It can take time for your body and mind to shift into better habits.
Don’t give up! Keep working at it, and watch as your body changes. You begin to notice the positive effects on your mood and feel much better about yourself. You will get through it, and you can do it.
