Everyone who has fitness goals suffers the fitness routine blues every once in a while. If you find that you are dragging your heels when it comes to working out lately, then it is time to inject some new life into your routine. Here are seven ways to stay motivated towards your fitness goals:
Switch Up Your Exercise Routine
No matter what your fitness routine is, there is no way it will stay motivating if you don’t switch it up regularly. Make sure that you have a wide variety of activities on your workout schedule, to keep things fresh (and also to keep your muscles in shock).
Enlist the help of a partner. Find a friend, neighbor, or coworker who has similar fitness goals to yours and partner up. When you know that you have someone counting on you to fulfill your end of a workout agreement, then you are much more likely to stay motivated towards your goals.
Change Gym Environment
Maybe the same old gym atmosphere is getting old and you need a change of scenery to revitalize your fitness routine. If your gym is a chain establishment (like the YMCA, for example), this problem may be easily solved by visiting an alternate location, instead. Or maybe you need to find a new walking path or bike trail.
Pick a Tangible Goal
Sure, your fitness goals probably involve looking better and feeling better… but you can’t see and touch these ideals, which means they often fall short when it comes to inspiring you to continue in a routine that you feel you are floundering in. Keep those goals, but add something tangible to the mix. For example, purchase a new swimsuit or dress in your “perfect” size, and work towards fitting into it.
The Little Things
It may sound silly, but sometimes even the smallest things can totally change the way to feel about working out. Buy some new workout clothes that you feel (and look) really good in. Upload some new, inspiring songs to your iPod. You’ll be amazed at how far a little bit of newness can go in refreshing your fitness outlook.
Keep Workouts Fun
The easiest way to stay motivated is to make your workouts fun. You’ll never stick to something you don’t like, or that is too grueling. Instead, pick a few activities that you genuinely enjoy and fit them into your exercise schedule. That may mean joining a softball team, finding a tennis partner, or even spending the weekends at the pool with the kids.
It is inevitable that at some point in time, your fitness routine will fall flat and you will find yourself questioning your desire to continue. Just follow these pointers to stay motivated, and don’t ever give up!
About the Author: Lorette Alcide is a phlebotomist training student who loves to exercise. She makes it her #1 priority each morning, even if she has to get up at 4am to get her workout in!