Lack of motivation is a universal struggle when it comes to exercising. I’m too tired. It’s raining... finding a reason to not workout is often easier than going to the gym. While it isn’t so bad in the summer months, the days are now getting shorter and it can be difficult to find a reason to pull our kit on and go to the gym. Cold winter mornings invite you to spend a few more minutes in bed - dragging yourself to the gym in the evenings is a struggle, when you’d rather just go home, watch some TV and go to bed.
But there's one thing for certain. When you don’t workout you always regret it.
So we asked the Activate Fitness instructors how they stay motivated. If you’ve been having trouble getting into a workout routine, their hints and tips are guaranteed to get you off the couch and breaking a sweat.
Tip 1 - Get a Gym Buddy
“Going with a gym buddy is also a great idea” says fitness instructor Paul Winsor “If you think about it, you probably have a friend who would really benefit from a good gym session. They probably need someone, like you, to help motivate them. So do it”. Pressing “snooze” on your alarm and skipping the gym is easy when you’re going alone — but bailing on your friend is a completely different story. If your friend isn’t a member, you can bring them on a guest pass to try out your local centre - and there are incentives like Refer a friend and receive One Month FREE! .
Tip 2 - Set achievable goals
“Setting small realistic goals” is another suggestion from Paul. Setting unobtainable physical goals in too short a time frame is a recipe for failure. Be realistic. Whether it’s wanting to be able to run more than a mile, or being able to finally climb that rope from gym class, everybody has a secret goal they want to achieve. “Rewarding yourself when you reach your goals” is also important according the Paul. So give yourself a reward after every milestone. Maybe treat yourself to a massage or facial every time you complete a set number of workouts or classes in one week.
Tip 3 - Get your gym kit on
“The hardest part of any gym class is actually travelling to the gym!” says fitness instructor Stephen “Once you’re there you get on with it!” If you exercise in the evening, one good tip is to change into your workout clothes before leaving the office. Once you’re dressed for it anyway, you might as well go to the gym. In fact, research suggests that our brains are susceptible to “enclothed cognition” - that’s a technical way of saying that dressing for the part can help fuel your ambition to complete a chosen task. If you’re in full workout gear, you’re far more likely to head to the gym.
Tip 4 - Discover Group Fitness
Classes are another great way to stay motivated says Ann Povall, one of Activate Fitness BodyPump instructors. “I would say that it’s about trying all different types of classes; because it’s about enjoying the exercise you do...” says Ann. “It’s about how you feel when you have completed your workout & the sense of achievement.. it’s turning up each week for that class & seeing some of the same faces & forging friendships & the whole feel of team working.” There are a full list of Activate Fitness classes here to choose from - so there should be one to suit you.
The truth is, once you love an exercise it becomes a part of your lifestyle. It may seem tough at first, but once it is part of your daily routine, it becomes a habit. Motivation just becomes easy at that point. Trust us!