12 Jun Try These Tricks For Those Times When You Don’t Feel Like Working Out
Try These Tricks For Those Times When You Don’t Feel Like Working Out
You’ve joined a gym, started training and set goals for yourself, but there’s an issue — you can’t seem to get excited about working out. Everybody, yes, even your trainers have days when it’s harder to motivate yourself to get to training, but if you consistently dread your training days, there are a few things you can do to get in a fitness mindset.
1. Don’t skip workouts
This is the hardest piece of advice to follow in this list — the problem is getting into the mindset to work out, after all.
But here’s the thing, there’s no way to get in the mindset to work out without actually working out.
The good news is that going to training sessions will only get easier as you develop fitness habits.
Schedule two to four workouts per week and don’t skip them. There are going to be days when you really don’t want to work out, but unless you’re sick that day, make yourself do it.
You can shorten your workout or do something easy, but at least get yourself to the gym.
The secret to living an active life is making fitness a habit.
From there on out, it’s much easier to stick to a routine.
If you’re struggling, remind yourself that every time you go to the gym, you’re one step closer to making it a habit and each workout will make the next one easier.
2. Find an activity you enjoy
If you hate running, but drag yourself onto the treadmill every time you go to the gym, of course you’re not going to have a good time.
The key to getting in the right mindset is to find an activity you enjoy.
See what your gym offers and keep an open mind — you may love an activity that you never expected you would, so consider trying everything at least once.
Some options include running, cycling, lifting weights, team training sessions & more - once you have a favourite activity, going to your training sessions will likely feel much easier.
3. Set goals and track your progress in a visible manner
One reason you might struggle to get in the mindset to workout is if you feel like you’re not making any progress.
Nobody likes putting in work with no reward, but you may be making more progress than you think.
The best way to combat this problem is to set specific goals and track your performance over time.
For example, every run on the treadmill may feel the same, but if you track your workouts, you might notice that your pace increased or you’re able to run longer than before.
Use the ACHIEVE app to help you log your workouts, or you can use a good, old-fashioned notebook and believe me, progress feels good and will keep you coming back for more!
4. Seek inspiration
A photo is worth a thousand words, and has the power to boost your motivation by one thousand percent, too.
If you need an extra push to get to the gym, surround yourself with images that inspire you to be active.
This might be pictures of your favorite athlete, other people’s progress photos, or pictures of a dream destination, like Mount Everest.
Whether you create a Pinterest board, follow your favorite athletes on Instagram, or cut out photos from fitness magazines, you can easily add a dose of visual motivation to your day.
This vision board will guide the way of your lifestyle change.
5. Remind yourself why you’re living an active life
You started exercising for a reason — remind yourself of it every time you workout.
Think about how great you’ll feel when you reach your goals.
You’re putting in time and effort now in a way that will pay off later, and it will all be worth it.
Even though working out may seem like a chore, if you adopt a grateful attitude and appreciate your body’s ability to move, you may find that every sweat session becomes more enjoyable.
Happy moving!
If you are feeling unmotivated to work out, you aren't alone. Mental blocks can interfere with workout motivation, so overcoming these blocks is key to maintaining motivation and sticking with a regular fitness routine.
While it's OK to be flexible with yourself and your exercise goals, making healthy habits like exercise part of your regular routine can have a significant impact on your health and well-being. Use these ideas to rebuild your confidence, boost your motivation, and enjoy the benefits of regular exercise.
Tackle Tiredness
If you feel tired, ask yourself if it’s physical or mental. If your tiredness isn’t due to a lack of sleep, illness, or a physically demanding job, chances are you’re mentally tired. While mental exhaustion can often feel physical, one of the best cures is physical activity and, once you get started, you’ll feel better.
Participating in regular physical activity can boost your energy levels and leave you feeling less fatigued than before. Just make sure you also work in recovery time to repair and restore your body after exercise.
Pay Attention to Self-Talk
There's a good chance you have some voices in your head. These voices belong to everyone, from your parents to someone on TV to your favorite Instagrammer. Your most prominent voice, however, is probably one of your own.
Sometimes you should listen to the voices telling you to take a day off or opt for a gentler workout. But most times, you'll need to be ready to stand up to the unhelpful voice to stay motivated.
Be prepared and remove obstacles:
Removing other obstacles to exercise means you'll only have the voice to deal with. For example, having your workout gear handy and your exercise time pre-scheduled can be a big help.
Don't give the voice time to chime in:
If you plan to exercise after work, don't sit down and watch TV or go home before the gym. If you need a transition, try something gentle but active, like stretching or doing a light, satisfying chore. If you exercise in the morning, put on your workout clothes right away, so you have one less obstacle between you and your workout.
Stop the argument:
For every excuse, reply, "I'm working out anyway." Better yet, "I'm not listening! La la la la!" Remind yourself of why you're committing to exercise and why those reasons outweigh what the voices say.
Research shows that using second-person self talk can help with motivation. Encouraging yourself with phrases such as "you can do this" or "you are going to meet your goal" improves the chances of obtaining your desired outcome.
Fight Fear
The need to do it right, to do it perfectly, or to work as hard as you can is what makes it hard to do in the first place, so start with baby steps. Ask yourself if fear is stopping you from even starting.
Asking for help:
Is there someone—a colleague, friend, or partner—you trust? Tell them you're having trouble sticking with exercise, and ask them to work out with you.
Doing what you can:
If you can't work out for 30 minutes yet, so what? Go for as long as you can and do more tomorrow. It's that simple, and it all counts.
Redefining your idea of exercise:
Does workout equal work in your mind? It doesn't have to. Think about it like this: If you've been sitting in a stuffy office all day, you now have 30 whole minutes to get out of there for a while. Or maybe you've been caring for your kids, and now you get some time to yourself to do something just for you. That's not just exercise—that's sanity!
Reminding yourself:
Write yourself notes and put them on your computer, your car, your shoes… everywhere. Remind yourself of your exercise goals ("I will exercise for 30 minutes today") and why you're doing it ("I want to have more energy.")
Train your brain for workout motivation
The imagination is a powerful tool and one you can use for your exercise routines. When the issue is motivation, it's your mind you're up against, so you have to convince it that there really is a good reason to exercise. Here's how to use your mind-over-matter skills:
Give yourself a reward:
If you finish your workout, reward yourself. While exercise comes with its own natural rewards (like more energy, better mood, less stress, and lowering your risk of disease), external rewards work too. Maybe the promise of a new pair of shoes, an hour reading your favourite book, or a massage will get you going.
Make a deal with yourself:
You’ll exercise for 10 minutes, and if you still really don’t want to continue, then you can stop. Nine times out of 10, you’ll keep going.
Pretend:
Make-believe can alter your mindset. Pretend you’re in a race, and if you win, you get a million dollars. Pretend that you’re racing to catch a bus or that if you make it home in a certain amount of time, Nike will be there to put you in one of their “Just Do It” commercials. Anything that makes you want to move works!
Set achievable goals:
Nothing can stop you in your tracks faster than staring up at a goal you fear you can’t achieve. While you can have big exercise goals, make sure that you also set smaller goals along the way. That way, you have more frequent victories to celebrate and keep you motivated to keep moving.
Tap into your competitive side:
Visualize:
Athletes often visualize themselves winning a race to get themselves pumped up. You can do the same thing by picturing yourself going through your workout from beginning to end. How do you feel when you’re finished? Visualize your success and make it happen.
Work things out:
One great thing about exercise is that it gives you quiet time to think about any problems you’re facing. Use your workout time to work through problems. You’ll be amazed at the results!
Use process goals:
Choosing specific goals that are part of a process, such as exercising 4 times per week, works better than using outcome goals, such as losing 10 pounds. Since outcome goals are relatively out of our control, focusing on the steps that will get you there is a more concrete, controllable method of working toward your goals.
