Sometimes working out is the last thing you want to do, but, when fitness motivation wanes, call on these tactics to drag yourself out the door
Stay Hydrated
For fitness motivation, drink at least 500ml of water before you start to train. Proper hydration removes that groggy or heavy feeling in your muscles that can slow you down and make you feel lethargic.
Your body goes through over ten million biochemical reactions a second, all of which are reliant on adequate hydration. Drink up, then work out.
Tweak your Training
When you’re not in the mood to work out, going to the gym, doing your usual at-home session or running your normal route can all seem tedious.
To overcome monotony, make sure you regularly switch up your exercise regime to include different workouts and types of training. Doing so will not only eliminate boredom, but keep your body guessing and accelerate results.
Drag Mates Along
Working out with friends means you’re less likely to skip your next training session. Training with a mate can also make exercise more enjoyable, motivating you to keep up the good work and giving you a chance to chew the fat while you burn it.
Put Your Kit On
Simply putting on your kit can drastically change your fitness motivation, mindset and mood. If you’re tempted to miss a workout, pack your gym bag the night before, or if possible put your gym clothes on first thing.
Kit that makes you feel good can also help you to push harder while you’re working out. According to research published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, clothing influences behaviour and attitudes because it carries a symbolic meaning, so putting on new or favourite gym gear reinforces your training intentions.
Turn Up the Music
Music is a powerful mood enhancer that can also push you harder while you’re working out. Upbeat, fast-paced tracks with inspiring lyrics can help to motivate you and put you in the mood to train, and frequently updating your playlist and adding new songs can also boost motivation.
Set Realistic Goals
Don’t let missing one workout be the catalyst for you to miss a whole week of training. Being realistic about what you want to achieve is key, because when you start seeing results, you’ll be inspired to work out more and as a result stay committed to your training plan.
There’s no harm in setting yourself a big goal, but break it down into smaller, micro goals so that you can celebrate your achievements and progress often.
