Gym Motivation – One of the biggest challenges with staying active is consistency and maintaining motivation. Sometimes work, life, and other things get in the way of workouts, or you just don’t feel as inspired or motivated to work out on some days; all of which is normal. But how do you truly combat those plateaus that inevitably happen in your fitness journey?

Finding an activity that you actually enjoy.

 

Fitness isn’t a one size fits all; there is no single correct way to stay healthy and different things work well depending on the individual. If you find yourself struggling to stay consistent with running, yoga, or any other exercise, try something different like a boxing class, or join a community sports team to make it more fun and engaging! The first step is to find a way to stay active that you truly enjoy, or a combination of a few to keep it interesting and make it easier to stay consistent.

 

 

 

 

 

Finding an activity you enjoy
Gym Buddies

Gym motivation requires accountability buddies! 

 

Find a friend who can help keep you accountable, whether that be setting a specific time to workout together every week, or using apps like Apple Fitness and Train Fitness to compete with each other and gamify fitness. Having a friend that has similar goals or will keep you in check is a great way to motivate yourself, and also have fun while improving your health! It’s also a fun way to keep track of your progress, and finding a community of people who are also working hard to stay active.

Creating the Habit

 

They say that the first 3 weeks of starting something new is the most difficult, and that a habit starts to form after that time period. Once you get over the 3-week hump you’ll gradually find it easier to keep incorporating fitness into your daily routine, and make it a permanent lifestyle change as it becomes an essential part of your life. Another thing to keep in mind is to start slow! Ease yourself into a workout routine with a few days a week, instead of suddenly starting with 5 days a week of heavy workouts. This can easily cause burnout and make it difficult to maintain a routine.

Fitness Goals Image

Goal Setting and Rewarding Yourself

 

Although this will differ depending on the person, remember to reward yourself for your hard work! Set realistic, small goals to start so that you’re not overwhelmed by one large goal that will take months to achieve. Break down your bigger goals into actionable, smaller steps that can help you stay motivated and feel more like you’re progressing towards your overarching goals in a timely manner. Treat yourself to a smoothie and some chipotle, buy new workout clothes, or any other reward that will keep you motivated, whenever you achieve a big goal!