My tips for workout motivation!
So, you want to work out. But, oh no! Youâre feeling a little unmotivated? You donât know where to start? It isnât always helpful to hear âjust do it,â even if itâs a little bit true. There are times where we all feel unmotivated and thatâs why we need to be dedicated, let out a deep sigh, and just do it.
Itâs more mental than physical. Now, I know what youâre thinking. I know exactly what youâre thinking.
How do we become dedicated? It can take weeks to months for a habit to solidify so how do we break down a few of these mental barriers to even get there in the first place?
You donât need a gym: A lot of people get stuck on âwhereâ before âhowâ and there are a number of reasons why a gym membership is actually an inconvenience or out of budget for many individuals. There are also people who find the gym absolutely boring. Thatâs fine! Our bodies already come equipped with cardiovascular machinery and can be used as a resistance tool. Our own homes, parks, and backyards are perfect places to workout and with the addition of a few small, affordable tools you can even up to ante without ever setting foot inside a gym.
Small steps before big leaps: If youâve never worked out before or simply need to get more active in general; then donât worry too much with whipping your ass into a protoplasmic pile of goo quite yet. Weâre all beginners at some point in time, and you need to let yourself be a beginner. The risk of injury is high for a beginner and thatâs the biggest mood killer of them all. Donât pop in a âMaximum Hardcore Power Shred 9000X²â DVD and expect to come out of that experience with a positive outlook on the days and weeks to come. You probably have some idea of where your fitness level is at, so be generous and be forgiving. For some people, fitness starts simply at taking more stairs and walking longer distances around town and thatâs absolutely great.
Write out a plan for the day: At night, I often write in my phoneâs little âsticky noteâ application what I want to do at the gym tomorrow morning and what weight, sets, and reps I may want to attempt them at. Not only will it help you zone in and focus on the task, but youâll be thinking about your workout in advance as well. Having a plan will reduce the number of âunknown variablesâ so you can just get started and stop second guessing yourself, a life-saver for the anxious.Â
Set out your workout clothes and supplies the night before: No matter when youâre planning to workout, just be ready well in advance. Donât get stuck in a situation where youâre frantically trying to slap things together, getting stressed out, and only to discover your shorts are dirty and your water bottle has mysteriously been stolen by gremlins.
Try a different time of day if youâre stumbling with your current one: This one is dependant a lot on personality and the mercy of your schedule and home life. Understandably, some people have less flexibility so itâs not always possible to switch time slots around. This was personally my biggest game changer, though. I used to workout in the evening but by the end of a day my âintrovert batteryâ was clocked and more times than not I said, âitâs blanket time.â Morning is my favorite time of day and Iâm fresh when I wake up, so I started going in the morning. It sounds obvious but it honestly was the best thing I ever did.
Find an exercise that genuinely excites you: The best workout is one that is fun for you to do, not the one that burns the most calories. Donât waste too much time on running if youâd rather have your toenails ripped out with a pair of rusty pliers. There are a million ways to get a workout, so shop around!
Switch it up and be open to trying something new: Having a game plan in place certainly is a pillar of success, but a good dose of spontaneity can give you that twinge of excitement youâre looking for and even introduce you to new workouts you never guessed youâd like. Personally, Iâd love to try a Zumba class sometime!
Try a podcast or audiobook instead of music: Only continue your playthrough a little before a workout, while working out, and a little after a workout. If youâre getting somewhere juicy, guess what? Gotta workout.
Do something if youâre not up for everything: Making a good habit and becoming dedicated isnât about having all cylinders firing at max 24/7. That is the key difference between motivation and dedication. If you donât feel like challenging your personal records today, thatâs fine. Pick a comfortable intensity, pick a nice small chunk of time. Also, going for a walk is an absolutely marvelous workout. It counts. It all counts. Â Feeling like a shut in today? Keep a jump rope and a yoga mat around. Build a list of Youtube videos you could do on that rainy day. Get some bodyweight routines in or jog in place a little. If youâre sore, just stretch. Doing a little bit of anything will uphold your habit and your dedication. Some days we achieve, other days we survive.Â
Sometimes rest days are announced, not planned: If youâve been getting into the swing of things but wake up feeling sick, exhausted, or have unexplained pain take the rest if you really think you need it. Youâre not âskipping the gym,â if you seriously need the rest. Try as we might to have a super tight plan, sometimes we have unexpected issues. Rest is also necessary.
@unfcking Ask and you shall receive! I hope you find something helpful here.
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