How to Stay Motivated to Work Out

If staying shape were easy, everyone would have athletic bodies. The truth is, sticking to a fitness routine requires a lot of motivation. It’s easy to start out with all the intentions in the world of working out every day. However, there are all sorts of things that life can throw your way.

Perhaps you have a stressful deadline at work, or you have family in town. Maybe you’re so tired at the end of the day that the last thing you want to do is get your sweat on. For some people, they just don’t want it badly enough. If you find yourself losing motivation for whatever reason, there are tricks to get back on track.

Here are some of the best tactics for staying inspired to get moving even when you don’t want to.

Work Out At Home

If you live in an apartment which offers amenities like a gym, why not take advantage? If your main reason for losing motivation to work out is the effort it takes you to pack up your things and drive to the gym; a home workout is a quick fix.

If you don’t have access to a gym in your home, you can still work out in your living room. All you need is a fitness mat. You can either do reps on your own or follow your favorite workout DVD. YouTube is full of options to follow along with as well.

Write Down Your Reasons For Wanting To Work Out

It’s easy to start a workout routine and quickly forget why we wanted to do it in the first place. However, if you have a strong motivation like wanting to live longer, or running your first marathon, then write it down!

Keep your motivational words somewhere where you can see them. Look at them every day and remind yourself what you want to achieve. By seeing exercise as a bridge to what you want rather than an irritating obligation, you’ll be much more likely to show up and do the work.

Be Specific

Committing to a defined goal keeps you inspired to continue going. If your goal is too general, then your motivation will quickly taper off.

Do you want to be able to do 50 reps by next month? Would you like to get down to your pre-pregnancy weight in 6 months? Set your physical aims high and be specific.

Schedule Your Workouts

People who are committed to working out see their workouts as a priority. You wouldn’t skip work, would you? Exercise should be just as important as all of your other engagements.

When you create your schedule each day, pencil in time for your workout. If you have a specific time frame when you’re supposed to exercise, you’ll be much less likely to find excuses not to do it.