Staying Motivated to Work Out

Motivation is a fickle beast. One moment it’s there, the next it’s gone. It can be challenging to keep up your exercise routine when you’re feeling unmotivated and everything feels like an uphill battle.

But thankfully, there are a number of ways you can stay motivated to exercise even when you don’t feel like it. And let’s face it — staying fit isn’t always easy.

Most of us are so busy with our daily routines that finding time to work out or hit the gym can seem almost impossible at times. However, there are many simple ways you can stay motivated no matter how unmotivated you feel.

Find a Workout You Actually Enjoy

If you don’t enjoy your workout, chances are you’re not going to be motivated to do it very often. If you can’t find a workout you actually enjoy, you’re more likely to give up when the going gets tough.

This is a surefire way to kill your fitness regime before it has even begun. Most people find that the best way to find a workout they actually enjoy is to try different types of exercise until they find something that really clicks with them. Be open-minded and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Different types of exercise include things like strength training, cardio, yoga, HIIT, Pilates, group fitness, rock climbing, etc. There are so many options to try! Finding a workout you actually enjoy is the best way to stay motivated and keep your fitness routine from falling by the wayside. You’re far more likely to continue exercising regularly if you actually enjoy what you’re doing.

Make Your Workouts Shorter and More Effective

If you find yourself getting bored or unmotivated halfway through your workouts, try making them shorter and more effective. Long, drawn-out workouts can often be boring and tedious — and on top of that, they don’t always lead to the results you’re aiming for.

Instead, try making your workouts more focused. You can do this by shortening your workouts and making them more intense, or by adding a few high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions each week. Lots of people find that shorter, more focused workouts are not only more enjoyable but also more effective.

A longer workout may sound like it’s more beneficial, but a shorter, more focused one is likely to provide more results. You could also try mixing up your workouts by alternating between cardio and strength-based sessions — or even by including a variety of different exercises within the same workout.

Set Short-Term Goals to Help You Stay Motivated

Another way to stay motivated when you don’t feel like exercising is to set achievable short-term goals. When you know what you’re working towards, it can help to keep you motivated and on track with your fitness regime.

You could set a goal for how many times a week you want to exercise, how many calories you want to burn, how long you want to exercise for, etc.

You could also set a goal for how you want to look or feel after a certain amount of time — for example, you could set a goal to have toned arms in six weeks or to have stronger core muscles in four weeks’ time. Setting short-term goals is a great way to stay motivated and keep your fitness routine on track.

Celebrate the Small Wins

One way to stay motivated when you don’t feel like exercising is to celebrate the small wins. There are likely to be times when you’re exercising when you don’t feel like doing it. You may have a busy week ahead, or you might find yourself struggling with a particularly challenging workout. In these times, it can be easy to want to give up and quit.

Instead of quitting when you don’t feel like exercising, celebrate the small wins by taking a break and coming back to it when you’re feeling more energized and motivated. Exercise shouldn’t be something you dread — it should be something you look forward to. It’s important to keep exercise fun so that you don’t get burnt out.

Think About Why You Want to be More Fit

Why do you want to be more fit and healthy? What benefits do they bring? Are they related to the way you feel or the way you look? Why do you want to exercise? If you can figure out why you want to be fit and healthy, it can help you to stay motivated and on track with your fitness regime.

What’s your ultimate goal? Do you want to build more muscle? Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to feel healthier? Do you want to feel more confident? Do you want to be able to do more activities or hobbies? The more specific you can be, the easier it will be to stay motivated.

If you know exactly what you’re working towards, it can be easier to stay on track with your fitness goals and remain motivated even when you don’t feel like exercising.

Exercise With a Friend or Join a Club

Sometimes, when you’re feeling unmotivated to exercise, it may be helpful to find someone who is already exercising and join them. If you’re feeling unmotivated, the last thing you want to do is go out and exercise alone.

This is because exercising alone can be difficult if you’re feeling unmotivated — you’ll likely feel self-conscious and weirdly out of place. Exercising with a friend is a great way to stay motivated and ensure you get the most out of your workouts.

Not only does exercising with a friend help to motivate you, it can also be a great way to de-stress, meet new people, or share fitness tips and advice.

Set Reminders to Exercise

Another way to stay motivated to exercise is to set reminders. This will help to ensure you don’t miss workouts or postpone your fitness regime. You could set daily, weekly, or monthly reminders on your phone or computer — or you could even make a note in your diary.

If you have a busy schedule, it can be helpful to set reminders so that you don’t forget to fit in your workouts. This can help to ensure you don’t postpone your fitness regime.

Exercising regularly is important. It can lead to a host of health benefits like increased energy, improved focus, better sleep, and stronger bones and muscles, among others. Additionally, it can help to reduce stress, improve your self-esteem, and improve your mood by releasing endorphins.

It’s never too late to get started. Give these tips a try to help you stay motivated and keep your fitness routine on track. Remember, you deserve to be fit and healthy, and it all starts with one small step: staying motivated.