How To Get (And Stay!) Motivated To Work Out
Ah, spring. The days are getting longer, plants and animals are starting to wake up from their winter sleep...and your new year’s resolution is a distant memory from months past. Many of us start out the year strong with goals of healthy eating and regular exercise, but as the months go on, the various stressors of life tend to chip away at even the strongest of wills. So, what are some ways to get your motivation back and get back into the flow? Here are some tried-and-true techniques to get yourself back on track.
START SMALL
As the saying goes, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” When it comes to getting back into a workout routine, this couldn’t be more true. Give yourself small, manageable goals to start -- you don’t need to start off with three full-body weight sessions or daily 5-mile runs, even if those are your eventual goals. Start with, for example, two 30-minute weight workouts a week or two runs (or walks!) of 1 mile each week. At the beginning, just getting out the door for a run/walk or stepping foot in the gym for a workout is all you need. Not only will these smaller goals prevent injury as your body adapts to working out, but the satisfaction of hitting your targets as you get into your groove will keep you motivated to slowly raise the bar higher until you reach your long-term goals.
FIND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU
Unless you’re a top professional athlete, working out is something that gets piled on top of work, friends, family, and other hobbies. WIth so many things competing for your time and attention, this means that working out needs to be something you want to do! Do want to improve your cardio but hate running? No problem! That’s your sign to look for different ways to get moving — going for bike rides, hikes, or even joining a community league like basketball or kickball will still get your heart rate without being a drag. Want to improve your strength without having to do the same weight exercises by yourself? Then a weight-based fitness class like IBX can keep you motivated and accountable as you work toward your goals. What if you want your workout time to be a chance to be in your own world? Great! Crank up your tunes, get a weightlifting routine set, and enjoy your alone time. The only wrong workout is the one that feels like a chore, so find ways to move that make you want to be moving!
REAL REWARDS = REAL RESULTS
As with so much in life, health and fitness are part of an ecosystem that needs to stay in balance. As part of that ecosystem, make sure that you have some rewards built in to help you appreciate all of your hard work. Some people are motivated by food and drink — burgers and beer always taste better after a long bike ride or hard workout. For others, getting an invigorating massage for tired muscles after a week of working out will leave you rested and ready to tackle the next week’s workout. Motivated by the promise of the progress you'll make? Plan an event that will test your fitness, like a running race, specific bike ride, or epic hike up Half Dome. Having this goal on the horizon will keep you motivated to stick with your plans, while also giving you a chance to celebrate your hard work with a great memory. No matter what keeps you interested, make sure you have some good rewards to balance out the work of workouts.
READY TO FIND YOUR CREW?
If you’re looking for a motivating group workout that will test all of your systems and get you fit for any goals that lie ahead, IBX is here for you. Come join our unique workouts with an eclectic crew and coaches from all different backgrounds. Click here to try us out with three classes for just $1 today!