Once you lose your workout mojo, trying to find it again is one of the toughest things you will ever face. We’re talking about Frodo trying to get that ring to Mordor kind of hard. Unfortunately, losing your motivations is way easier than you may have realized. It could be that you are trying to find some form inspiration to start a new workout program, or you’ve found yourself caught in a post-injury rut, or have hit a wall where you don’t seem to be able to lose any more weight or build any more muscle, and that is really affecting your motivation to go get some. It could even be that you are just incredibly bored of your workout, which is a real mojo crusher.
So, to stop you from coming up with any more lame excuses, and to prevent you from wimping out on any more of your workouts, we’ve come up with a list of ways you can get your motivations levels to peak. Now go get ‘em, tiger. And remember, excuses don’t get results.
So, to stop you from coming up with any more lame excuses, and to prevent you from wimping out on any more of your workouts, we’ve come up with a list of ways you can get your motivations levels to peak. Now go get ‘em, tiger. And remember, excuses don’t get results.
Change It Up A Bit
When you are lost in a workout rut and you have no idea how to get out of it, one of the most effective things you can do is change up your program. It’s kind of a no-brainer, but by falling into the monotonous regime of doing the same thing every day, you’ll start suffering from a little called Total Boredom. However, it isn’t just your mind that will start to suffer from an inability to self-start, it will also be because your gains will very quickly start to tail off until you are hitting your head against a brick wall. The reason this happens is because our bodies learn to adapt, and that will leave you in the sucky situation where you're enduring all the pains without getting any of the gains. That is where changing up your program can have huge results, and the best way to do this is to make your goals a little more targeted. Instead of just saying you want to hit the gym six days a week, have a program that will help you achieve something a little more measurable. Working towards something will have you more excited for the gym than a puppy gets for a game of fetch.
The Early Bird And All That
There is an entire Ashmolean-sized library of reasons why exercising first thing in the morning is the best, and as a result, there are tons of rumors that circulate about how a morning session makes you more successful at following a fitness program. But have you ever stopped to actually work out why this may be the case? Probably not. Yeah, it has a lot to do with your metabolism getting a jump start and your endorphins being released, both of which will give you some euphoric highs that will become associated with a nice workout. But it also to do with your actual motivation levels. If you imagine your motivation to be a fuel tank in a car, you’ll realize that there is more of it at the start of the day, and less and less as the day rolls on. So, if you’re used to lying in, then rushing to get to work, after which you’ll enjoy an evening workout only to come up with another one of your lame excuses, try switching it around and working out first thing in the morning. We’re willing to make a wager that it works wonders.
Do It For Six-Minutes, Then Stop
This is one of the sneakiest tricks in the book and an approach that is designed to fool your inner-self. What’s more, it works. It isn’t so much reverse psychology or anything like that, it is more like an old parenting trick. You get yourself to do something even though you think you’ll hate it, only to find out that you love it. That’s how this works. So, what you need to do is, set a timer on your phone for five, six or seven minutes and then crack on with your workout. Here’s the crux: if you aren’t enjoying your workout by the time the timer is up and your alarm is ringing, then stop. Just pack in right there and then. Chances are, you won’t stop. Why? Because you’ll suddenly realize that this workout isn’t so bad, that your motivation is back in place and that you are, in fact, really enjoying it. You’ll probably even laugh at yourself a little, wondering why the hell you were making all those excuses before because this whole sweating thing is awesome.
Set Yourself Up For Success
Trust us, a lot can be said for a pre-exercise ritual, that thing you do that gets you a little more jacked up, a little more pumped and a little more ready to take on whatever exercise program is staring you in the face. It could be that you treat yourself to a nice triple, venti, no fat, no cream, soy, no foam latte from Starbucks (or whatever they are ordering these days), or pull on your headphones and listen to that workout jam on Spotify that always gets your pulse to go through the roof, or it could be that you lock your closet doors so that all you have to wear is your workout gear. Whatever it is that kind of gets you in the mood, do it. Make it your ritual. Have a habit that helps you get in the zone. As stupid as it may seem, it works. If it didn’t we wouldn’t be wasting your time talking about it.
You Can Totally Buy Inspiration
No matter what sort of budget you are working with, there are things you can buy that will help you boost your workout motivation. There are workout clothing ideas that can lift your spirits for the simple fact a nice new pair of shorts can work wonders on your mentality, as can a sexy pair of shiny new sneakers, or kicks, or whatever you like to call them. If you want to up the ante a little bit because you know that new shoes aren’t going to change a thing, then why not get yourself a gadget that could help you visualize how close you are getting to your goals. Something like a Fitbit, or a fitness tracker, or a cool decathlon watch or a GoPro for your bicycle. It could just be a set of weights. If it is fitness related then there is a high chance it is going to work wonders. We’re just inherently suckers for that kind of thing.
The Gym Is The Problem
More and more people are losing interest in going to the gym because it is very little about hitting a treadmill while cooped up in a four-walled basement that is motivating. Which is exactly why you should try changing the environment that you exercise in. Instead of running on a treadmill, try running in the great outdoors, or cycling along the canal, or joining that Get As Fit As A Marine course that a vet has just started running in the local park. It could even be that you swap your dank old gym for that shiny new one down the street (sounds like the start of Dodgeball - Average Joe’s versus Globo Gym), by utilizing their free first-month membership subscription. The point is, a change of scenery can really jolt the motivation back into you. It can be that thing that triggers a renewed adoration for all things exercise and make you fall madly in love with the tiring process of getting in shape once more.
For The Love Of God, Buddy Up
Have you ever known a circumstance where being with your best-friend hasn’t made whatever it is you are doing a million times more awesome? Well, this transcends into exercising too. It just makes the whole experience more enjoyable and it makes you more accountable. Trying to skip out on a morning run when you have to explain yourself to your friends becomes so much harder and more unattractive, especially if you aren’t a morning person and you know your brain will really struggle to come up with a viable excuse. Of course, running is something that can be done solo, which means you won’t feel so bad if you do skip out. So, to counter this, try getting into an activity that requires two people - boxing, tennis, squash - the kind of activity that will make you feel immensely guilty if you do miss out. Once you’ve done breaking a sweat, then go and catch up over one of those obnoxiously named Starbucks coffee’s we mentioned earlier. That will be the best reward ever. You and your mate, hanging out; there really is nothing better.
There are so many little things you can do that will make a huge difference to your motivation levels. But, at the end of the day, what you need to realise is that your motivation is all to do with attitude, which means, if you don’t can’t get inspired to do something, then change it, and if you can’t change it, then change the way you think about it. Yeah, the only limitation is you. Pow.
There are so many little things you can do that will make a huge difference to your motivation levels. But, at the end of the day, what you need to realise is that your motivation is all to do with attitude, which means, if you don’t can’t get inspired to do something, then change it, and if you can’t change it, then change the way you think about it. Yeah, the only limitation is you. Pow.
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