Some days, you just don’t feel like working out, whether you have a lot going on at work, you’re sore, or you just flat out don’t feel like it. Having a day like this every once in a while isn’t going to keep you from your fitness goals, but what if your lack of motivation starts to creep up more frequently?
First of all, lack of motivation is perfectly normal, so stop judging yourself. Judging yourself isn’t going to motivate you, it’ll just make it harder to begin your fitness journey again. Now that you’ve got that out of the way, the good news is that getting motivated again isn’t as hard as you might think! Here are four proven ways to get motivated about exercising.
Hire A Remote Personal Trainer
Sometimes it’s easier to get motivated if you have someone helping you set goals and holding you accountable during your workouts. With a remote personal trainer, you never even have to leave your house to exercise if you don’t want to. You’ll get an exercise plan that you can execute on your own schedule, instead of trying to schedule classes at a gym that might not fit around your availability.
A remote personal trainer will meet you at your fitness level. They’ll be able to give you guidance regarding how many reps to shoot for and how much weight to use for different exercises. That way you’re being challenged, but not making yourself miserable by accidentally overdoing it. A remote personal trainer can help you make educated decisions about your body, so working out is less of a chore and more of an exciting part of your routine. Also, it’s hard to make excuses about working out when you know you’ve got an accountability check-in coming up with a coach, personal trainer or workout partner.
Try A Type Of Exercise That Excites You!
Sometimes you just need to shake things up! If your old exercise routine isn’t sparking joy, Marie Kondo your workout routine and part ways, at least for a little while. Have you always wanted to try kickboxing? Curious about pilates? Think you could get your groove on with a group dance class? Even if you have a regular gym membership, see if you’re able to do a free trial somewhere. You’ll get a change of scenery and maybe even find that you’re more engaged with a fresh fitness routine. No matter what your goals are, you need to be enjoying yourself in order to get motivated.
Set Attainable Goals
Maybe you’re not feeling motivated, because you’ve set unrealistic goals for yourself. Working out isn’t going to yield immediate results. It’s about the overall commitment to yourself and your health. Make your goals less about numbers and more about quality. Exercise in a way that makes you feel good about yourself. Maybe swap a part of your workout routine that you’re not looking forward to with something you’re very good at. Reminding yourself of the goals you’ve already accomplished and the progress you’ve made makes you feel grateful and motivated to keep going. Setting attainable goals like drinking more water or getting in an extra 3,000 steps a day is a great way to make lasting and permanent changes to your routine.
Reward Yourself For Taking Initiative
When you opt to exercise in the face of aversion, reward yourself! Go to a bookstore and pick out a new book or buy a new pair of exercise pants for your next workout. Maybe just reward yourself by spending a little extra time outside. If exercising manifests in a positive outcome of your choosing, you’re more likely to go back for more.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with feeling unmotivated sometimes. During those times, it’s equally important that you find better ways to get engaged. Find a remote personal trainer, try new types of exercise, make your goals reachable and don’t forget to reward yourself for a job well done.
