Motivation to exercise can sometimes to hard to come by. January is the month of new beginnings, fresh starts, and lots of ambitious plans for the new year. But we all know how challenging it can be to keep motivated and stay on track with goals- especially health and fitness goals. We want to remind you of six steps you can take to stay motivated to exercise throughout the year and crush those goals!
Make it a habit
Old habits die hard- and that’s a fact. Whether it’s a good one or an unhealthy one. You need to carve out time in your day to work out and stick to it. Make sure that it is enough time to get through the entire workout but not too long that you can’t maintain it. If you can manage to keep up a workout streak, then you will do it on autopilot!
Change it up
Habits and routines need to stay fresh and exciting otherwise you will get bored. Every now and then, change up your routine: use new equipment, get a new trainer, or change your venue. If you normally jog for cardio, take a spin class instead or go for a swim at that designated time. By nature, it’s important to enjoy whatever it is you do, otherwise, it will not last. As long as you’re keeping active and moving your body, you’re doing great!
Stay Connected
Like we mentioned in our previous post, one of the most effective ways to stay motivated is to stay connected with like-minded persons. Get your friends and family on board with your fitness goals and have them hold you accountable. It is much more motivating to commit to something when it’s not just about you. Would you be more motivated to go running at five by yourself or with your cousin who’s waiting for you down the road?
You can find virtual support if all else fails. Join a fitness challenge online and workout with your virtual pals instead. Take progress pictures so that the results can seem more tangible to you.
Set SMART goals
Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-based.
Your goals need to constantly challenge you: instead of saying “I want to run better”, say “I want to be able to run a mile in 5 minutes”. Be as specific as possible.
Make sure that you can measure your goal. If your goal is weight loss, you can count how many holes on your belt you need to bypass before it comfortably fits your waist.
Set realistic goals for yourself taking into consideration your current abilities and limitations and the time in which you wish to attain that goal. For example, if you can only squat a maximum of 20lbs currently, don’t set yourself up to be able to squat 100lbs by the end of the month.
Reward Yourself
You may not have been able to lose that 20lbs yet but you went from being able to do six push-ups at a time to 20. That’s awesome! Take a moment to savor all those feel-good hormones running through your system. When your progress gets even bigger and more noticeable, treat yourself to something nice like a new pair of shoes, a new gaming system, or a relaxing spa day.
Self- Care
If you feel overwhelmed or you feel like burn out is around the corner, take a break. That will positively impact your workout regime more than you know. It’s okay to take some time to rest and recover. The important thing is that you get back in there as soon as you can. Be flexible, be forgiving, and most importantly, be kind to yourself. Stay motivated. All the best for the new year! 🙂
Motivation is what gets you started. Results are what keep you going.
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