Most people know they should work out but lack the motivation to actually work out. We all know we should exercise regularly, eat healthily, get enough sleep, and do many other healthy living tasks, but there is a big difference between knowing what to do and doing it. At the start of every new year, many people force themselves to start working out and stick with the plan for a few weeks before motivation lapses again. So long as the desire to get in shape is there, motivation can be improved, and there are plenty of new ways to stimulate your interest in working out again. A combination of psychological tricks and modern technology can bring back your motivation to work out, so you no longer dread that time of day. It is the start of a new year, so use these tips and tricks to get back into working out without forcing yourself through it.
Dress For The Occasion
It may sound silly, but getting dressed to work out can help you get the motivation to workout. So long as you sit in your work or lounge clothes, you have a bit of distance from working out, so it is easier to dismiss. If you take the time to get dressed in workout gear, it is much harder to skip the workout since you have fewer excuses or convenient barriers.
Put on your workout clothes even if you are not feeling up to working out and just want to watch TV. This is a simple psychological trick to get you past hurdles, even if they are imaginary hurdles. Putting on exercise clothes is often enough of a prod to get you moving. Even a quick 30-minute workout is better than nothing, so put on your clothes and get it over with so you can enjoy the post-workout endorphins and the rest of your day.
Make It A Group Activity
One of the best ways to stick with a workout routine is to involve a friend to keep you on track. You can set up a video or voice call so you and your friend can workout together while staying safely distanced. You can take the same online workout class together or just use the call to keep each other honest while working out separately. Having a gym or workout buddy makes it much harder for you to skip a session because your friend is waiting for you. Find a friend who also wants to get in shape and help each other stick with the program.
Add Entertainment To Workouts
Workouts can be tedious, and no one wants to do more of something they find boring. With most gyms and in-person classes closed, people may feel stuck with bodyweight workouts at home, but there are more options. There are a slew of different online workout classes you can stream to your TV and wireless speakers to create your own workout class at home or put on some wireless headphones if you have housemates who don’t want to participate. If you prefer to stream workout classes on your TV, you may enlist the services of an audio visual technician to help you with the setup.
You can listen along to a workout class or put on your favorite music, audiobook, or any other entertainment you want. You can also maximize your time by playing a language lesson or listening to an educational series. It doesn’t really matter what you listen to while you exercise; the goal is to make working out more fun and interesting. Put on whatever you want to listen to or watch while you work out, so long as it helps you stay in the zone and give your workout your full effort.
Change Your Routine
Anyone would get tired of doing the same thing over and over again. No one wants to do the same workout every day, and at a certain point, you will plateau or lose motivation entirely if you don’t keep your routine varied. Browse through different online workout classes and pick different styles to keep things interesting; try yoga one day and a dance class the next day. There are endless ways to workout, so keep changing your routines to stave off boredom and unhelpful repetition. Your interest will stay piqued, and your body will appreciate the different types of workouts.
Finding and maintaining the motivation to workout is hard, but it can be done. Put on your workout clothes, call a gym buddy, and put on a fun class to get back in the rhythm. Make workouts fun with entertainment and varied classes so you can keep your motivation going well past 2021.
*Disclaimer: TMC was not paid for this post. Guest post by Naomi Shaw. Opinions are 100% my own.
