Motivation? (You've got this!)

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Picture this. It’s 6:30 am and your alarm goes off. You told yourself you’d workout today, but you’re not exactly feeling it. You’re not alone. As the days become shorter and the temperature starts to dip, motivation can be waning at the same time. What to do? Here are some of my tried-and-true tips to restore your drive when the going gets tough.

  1. Check in with an accountability partner. If you don’t have one already, I highly recommend you seek one out! He or she can help you stay driven and give you a pep talk when things aren’t going so well. 

  2. Try something new. In a rut? It’s easy to get burned out on a fitness program if you don’t have much variety. (At least that’s the case for most people. ) Mix it up with a barre class, yoga practice. dance sesh or even a brisk walk. You don’t have to engage in high-intensity or high-impact exercise every session to get results.

  3. Reward yourself with a non-food treat. Sometimes we need a proverbial carrot in front of us, so to speak. But be careful about how you go about it. Don’t fall into the trap of eating something calorie-dense, salty or sweet, just because you worked out. Exercise should be its own reward and creating such a relationship/association with food can be unhealthy. Instead, indulge in a hot bath, your favorite TV show, a good book or some other pleasure. 

  4. Reflect on your past wins. When I am down on myself, I try to remember all of the progress I've made. Whether it’s hitting short-term smaller goals or more substantial ones, it helps to check in every now and then. I find that if I’m on the fence about working out, owning my wins perks me up. 

  5. Ask for help. If you find that motivation is in short supply more often than not, it might be time to be honest with yourself. Not everyone has returned to the gym and even those who have might find themselves overwhelmed or under-motivated after being inactive for several months. That’s where I can be of assistance! Contact me to set up a free consultation.