Lacking Motivation? See below on some tips to get you started!
Are you lacking motivation when it comes to your training?
Wanting to turn your 1-off training session into a weekly routine?
Too often people will look for motivation in all the wrong places. They want to look like their Instagram idols and #Fitspo athletes that pop up on their feeds as they scroll through searching for motivation. This is called external motivation and while it may give you a burst inspiration it never lasts long.
If you’re someone who doesn’t naturally have that passion for fitness and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, don’t stress, there’s still hope for you. Here are a few ways to make fitness a part of your routine if you’re struggling to find that internal motivation.
1: Make exercise a habit.
Create a reward habit for yourself every time you complete a workout to make your mind think it’s worth it. If you save that smoothie or post workout snack for after your workout and only after you workout this can create a habit loop that will make you associate exercise with reward. It works with your dog and it most certainly works with us too. This doesn’t necessarily have to be food related either. It can be as simple as treating yourself to an episode of Game of Thrones after a workout, or soaking in a hot bath to help muscle recovery.
2: Tell everyone what you’re doing and make it a public commitment.
By letting everyone know your goals you become accountable to them. Find yourself a training partner and set workout days in your calendar. You’ll get out of bed if you know someone’s waiting for you and it’s also a lot more enjoyable going through the process with a friend. You can even sign a commitment contract with someone. If you miss a workout you owe them lunch or the next coffee.
3: Hire a personal trainer or commit to a program with other people.
Sometimes you can find that motivation to get to the gym, but once you’re there you might not feel like putting in the work. A personal trainer is a great way to have someone there to push you. Alternatively if you’re gym’s running a challenge program or group classes, working with like-minded people towards a common goal is a great way to find that motivation to push yourself.
Once you start to see the hard work you’re putting in begin to pay off, the journey gets easier. It starts to become a part of your daily routine. Like they say, “It’s not the destination that matters, but the journey”. So put one foot in front of the other and learn to love the process!
Koben Moore
– Team ASF