Working out is essential, and we know that, so why is it so hard to motivate ourselves to do it? Too many times we make excuses for why we can’t work out, even though we know that to be healthy and live a great life, we need to exercise.
We’re all guilty of telling our doctors we work out twice a week when we only work out twice a month, but there’s a reason they always ask! It’s not that we can’t work out, it’s just that we don’t want to work out.
To help you get on the track to a better lifestyle and reaching the best version of you, here are five ways to motivate yourself to exercise and work out!
This might seem simple, but it really is one of the most important and motivational ways to get you to work out! If you don’t have a goal, you won’t work out. Simple as that.
Setting a goal and achieving it is easier than you might think! The key is sticking to that goal, so make it specific to you. Do you want to be able to run a mile in 7 minutes? Do you want to look bangin’ in your bikini this summer? Do you want to be able to walk up the stairs without losing your breath? Whatever your goal is, know that it is valid and totally achievable… to an extent.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when setting a goal is picking something that isn’t attainable. Many people will compare themselves to celebrities and models without realizing that they have different body types, the photos are edited, and they have professional help. Avoid comparison as it is the killer of goals and may cause you to give up.
Once you have your specific goal in mind, put it in writing. Be confident when writing this goal and say you will do this instead of “I will try to do this.” Put that goal somewhere you can see it daily and make a plan. What do you need to do to achieve this goal? Write that plan down, stick to it, and you’re already halfway there!
The gym isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay! Instead, find an environment you feel comfortable with. When you force yourself to do something you really don’t want to, you begin to lose motivation and will find excuses for not sticking to your goal.
If you’re a homebody or are nervous about going to a gym, consider workout videos to do at home! There are hundreds of videos that you can follow along in the comfort of your own home, and you don’t even have to leave the house!
If you have space, create an area designated to working out. Decorate it however you want with motivational quotes and pictures, paint the walls a fun colors, whatever will make the room inviting and fun is ideal because you will want to be there!
One of the best ways to motivate yourself is to be surrounded by people with similar goals as you. Classes are great ways to have fun while working out and you can go with friends or take them alone!
Groupon is always offering fun workout classes that you can try out or join for a discounted price, making it easy and affordable to join! There are tons of fun classes to try including kickboxing, weight lifting, cycling, and more!
If classes aren’t your thing, consider joining a club! There are always lots of running clubs, swim teams, and other sports teams for all experience levels and you meet people with common interests as an added bonus!
Having a coach is fantastic because they help keep you accountable and push you to reach your goals. Sometimes we give up too quickly, but being around people that are like us with similar goals helps us to achieve those goals faster!
Who doesn’t love shopping? Working out is a great excuse to do just that!
Dress in clothes that you feel good and confident in. When you dress the part, you feel more motivated to actually exercise, and you’ll be excited to wear the new outfits you bought for that purpose! Shopping for workouts also holds you accountable by reminding you that you went shopping so you can work out, and they weren’t bought just to be shoved in a drawer.
One sure-fire way to motivate yourself is to see the progress you’ve made. Keeping a journal of your success will prove that you are progressing even if you don’t see it right away. It’s easy to lose motivation when you don’t see progress, so remember this: It takes 4 weeks for you to see a difference, 8 weeks for your friends and family to see a difference, and 12 weeks for everyone else. So don’t get discouraged if you aren’t seeing results the first week!
Keep a journal of the exercises you did, how you are feeling, results you and others are seeing, or whatever else your personal goal might require such as diet and water intake. Make sure to also journal on days where you lost motivation or didn’t work out so you can see the difference in how you feel and you’ll have a record of what happened to make you fall behind.
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