11 Workout Motivation Tips To Keep You Going
You're a busy person. Between your job, family, and all the other obligations in your life, it can be hard to find time to work out. But exercise is essential to maintain your health and well-being.
A gym membership can be expensive, and driving to and from the gym can take up a lot of time. So how can you make time for a workout when you're so busy?
Taking the time for a workout should be one of the top priorities in your day. When you feel you've lost motivation, these tips will help you get started again and keep you going!
The Importance Of Working Out
Exercise is an important part of maintaining your health and well-being. When you have a fitness routine, your body releases endorphins that make you happier. Working out also helps to keep your weight healthy, regulate your appetite and sleep cycle, release tension, and prevent disease.
If a physical activity seems complicated for you right now, it's time to find some motivation! These tips will help get you started on the way to a healthier lifestyle.
What Is Motivation, And Why Do I Need It?
When you feel motivated, it usually means that your focus is stronger, and you're more likely to be productive. When you're feeling unmotivated, it often means that your focus on your fitness goal is weaker, and you might not produce as much.
Motivation can come from within or from outside sources. Some people find motivation through the support of friends, family members, or even strangers online. Others find motivation in their own goals for a healthier lifestyle.
Workout Motivation Tips To Keep You Going
1. Keep Track Of Your Progress
When you're feeling unmotivated, it can help to keep a mental or physical log of your progress. Sometimes, it can be hard to see how far you've come in your fitness journey when you're looking back at your workout regimen.
But if you write down how your workouts are going and how you feel before and after, then you'll have a clearer idea of what's working for you. When you see the progress made, it will give you more motivation to continue.
2. Find A Workout Partner
Studies show that people who work out with friends are more likely to stick to their routine.
Having someone there to push you and hold you accountable can help you stay motivated! A personal trainer can also provide this same level of support.
3. Make Your Workouts Social
If you need a little more motivation to get up and work out, try making your workouts social. Invite a friend or family member over to do a workout with you. You can also challenge them to see who has the most reps in a certain amount of time.
Another idea is to go to the gym with a friend and work out together. Even if you're not very social, making your workouts social will help you get out of your comfort zone.
Doing a workout with someone else gives you support and encouragement, which can help motivate you to stay on track for the entire time. Plus, it's easier when someone else counts the reps for you!
4. Plan Ahead And Keep It Simple
Working out should be a priority, but you can't always plan your day around it. The key is to find a time in your schedule that works for you.
Plan ahead and note the days of the week that work best for you to work out. This way, if something comes up, you'll know when you can fit in some exercise! Planning what workout clothes to wear might help too.
Another crucial part of planning is setting a specific schedule that works well for you. A sixty-minute fitness program is perfect for many people because it gives them enough time to get their heart rate up and get into an intense rhythm. However, if this isn't enough time for what you need, do what's best for your needs.
If other obligations arise or life gets busy, and it's impossible to make the necessary time commitment, try breaking your workouts into smaller chunks throughout the day. If this still feels too overwhelming, try working out with a friend or family member who has similar availability.
This way, you'll stay motivated because your exercise routine won't feel like such a monumental task on its own!
5. Get Started With A Few Minutes
The best advice for someone who's feeling unmotivated is to get started. If you've been putting off your workout for a few days, it might not be easy to get back into the habit.
Start small and work your way up. You could start with five minutes of walking or light jogging on the treadmill. Once you feel ready to take on more, go ahead and ramp up the intensity.
6. Adjust Your Attitude And Mindset
It's time to start feeling good about your workout routine. You're doing something good for your body and mind. Exercise releases endorphins, which help us feel happier and less stressed. And by not getting the proper exercise, you might be more prone to health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and depression.
The best way to stay motivated is to change your attitude towards working out. Instead of seeing exercise as a chore or something that you have to do, make it an opportunity to enjoy yourself and focus on what you're doing for your wellbeing. When you change your mindset about working out, you'll feel more motivated!
7. Stick To Your Routine
Set a routine and stick to it! This is important throughout all aspects of your life, not just fitness.
Find a routine you find enjoyable so it’s easier to stick with it long-term and easier to stay motivated. While some may choose walking, running, swimming or even dancing, others may opt for a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program. This is ideal for those looking to get the most out of their workout in a short period. You can find these HIIT workouts on a fitness app or even YouTube.
Just be sure to stick with what works for you and try to make it an enjoyable healthy habit. Your body becomes used to the same pattern, so when you go off of your regular exercise, you might feel discouraged because your body has adjusted to the previous pattern, and now suddenly, you’re more sore than usual.
Also, try to work out at the same time every day to get into a rhythm. The more often you do something, the easier it will be for you to keep going back for more.
8. Stay Positive
There are many different ways you can keep a positive mindset. From staying updated on current events to reading motivational quotes, there are plenty of resources available for you to find inspiration.
If your workout is becoming a chore for you, try out some new exercises and put your spin on things. This will give you the motivation you need to keep going!
9. Be Healthy, Not Skinny
The first step to staying motivated is to walk away from the idea that you need to be skinny. You're not aiming for perfection, but instead a healthy body. Your best bet? Aim for anything below 30 percent body fat.
The next step: don't forget to eat. Yes, you may want to take a break from your meal plan for a day, but the success of your workout will depend on how well you fuel your body before and after your workout.
Finally, it's time to set yourself up for success in your workout by listening to music and wearing clothes that make you feel comfortable. Make it easy on yourself by choosing an outfit and playlist in advance so that when you're ready to work out, everything is already taken care of.
10. Love Yourself
The most important thing you can do to get back to your workout routine is to love yourself. When you're feeling down, it might not seem worth it to invest the time in a workout.
Remember that exercise is for your health, and doing it consistently will make you feel better about yourself. Why? Because you're taking care of your physical needs, which makes you feel good mentally as well!
11. Keep Going!
One of the best pieces of advice to stay motivated is to try to keep a positive attitude. Keeping a “glass is half full” attitude means giving yourself grace if you fall off a bit. Try practicing self-compassion and easing back into your routine without shame or self-judgment.
If you find yourself letting negativity take over and discourage you from working out, those negative thoughts may lead to a worse mood and even less motivation. But when your attitude is positive, it's easier to push yourself that extra mile or work out at the gym for an additional ten minutes.
How To Keep Motivation When You Lose It
There are many reasons why people lose motivation to work out. Some people feel like it's too much of a hassle, while others want to try something new. Whatever the reason, you're never too far away from your goals when you can stay motivated.
Start by setting small achievable goals that make you feel accomplished. If you're trying to lose weight, set a goal to walk for 15 minutes this week or eat less junk food. Once you meet these smaller goals, it's easier to stay motivated and keep going. You'll also be able to see how your hard work is paying off and get excited about meeting more goals!
When you're feeling unmotivated, remind yourself of all the good habits you're building when you work out. It'll help motivate you to keep going and work towards your fitness goals.
Find an activity that makes exercise fun for you! There are many ways to do this: find an activity that works with your schedule, take up a sport that you enjoy like tennis or rock climbing, or search for different fitness classes near your home or office so that it's convenient for you.
Conclusion
There are many different ways to stay motivated in your workout routine. It's essential to find what works best for you and keep a positive attitude. No matter what, don't forget to love yourself! You're worth the time and effort you're putting into improving your health. Keep going. And if you hit a roadblock, get back up and get going again. As the saying goes, this is a journey...not a destination. Enjoy the ride, the run, the walk.