What can I do to keep motivated to work out?
Here are some tips to help you get motivated to get to the gym in the short term. This list is not all inclusive but it does have some things you can use to keep yourself going to the gym long after the New Year's crowd has quit.
Photos: Pictures can be very inspirational! Regardless of what you think of those magazines, having a picture to look at is helpful in letting your mind capture an image of what you want. Once your mind has the image, you will start to take actions in life to accomplish that. I recall when I wanted my first motorcycle, I used visualization techniques. I kept looking at the pictures over and over each night. Eventually I got my motorcycle! This worked for getting a new car, a house and just about everything else. Once I could visualize what I wanted, my mind helped take actions to set my
body in motion. Set Small Goals: Sometimes it much easier to think of getting around the next corner then it is to look at the big picture. When I hiked Yosemite's Half-Dome, I used many small goals to keep me going. Rather than look at my final objective all the time, I used land markers to keep me going from one point to another. A technique you can use at the gym. Set weekly goals (1 lb a week) rather than looking at what you want to accomplish a year from now.
Music: A classic motivator. Personally it distracts me. But for many, their favorite mix jam is just what they need to get into the zone and feel amped up. If you like music and it doesn't bother you at all, then consider it for an extra boost when you don't feel like working out. Music can easily put you into the mood.
Workout Partners: The best motivation is somebody else with a like goal that wants to accomplish what you want as well. When you feel down and out and not really into it, this person might pull you along. When you can't get that last rep out, they are there to give you a spot. It's so much easier to have a training partner you can trust that motivates you. If they are a little competitive that might not hurt either. You can both use each other's energy to push yourself. When you are accountable for something, it's harder to back out.
Classes: Many people want to workout but feel without structure, they just get lost and bored. Being in a class can really help focus in on your goals with structured objectives in mind. If you don't like working out alone, a class might be an idea option. Especially when you don't know where to being and you like the idea of instruction.
Personal Trainer: A times they get a bad rap, but if you find a good one, then paying for a mentor is precisely what you need. Shelling out $70 or more for a package of training sessions can really motivate you to keep going. They are also your paid training partner. They can help push you and adjust your program for progressive resistance and growth. Not only are you accountable (spending money) but a good personal trainer can help design you a program and nutritional plan that meets your needs. Everybody should have a personal trainer at some point. Their watchful eye on your exercise form is critical as well. Not all personal trainers are worth their weight in gold so be aware and find somebody you like and trust.
New Routines: One of my favorite motivational techniques is to try something new. When your routine becomes boring and stagnant, there's nothing like trying new stuff to spice it up and keep you interested. You are engaging in fitness for life. That doesn't mean you have to do the same old boring routine for the rest of your life! Having a new plan of action can keep you mentally fresh and your body challenged.
These are just some of the techniques you can use to keep yourself motivated in the short term. How to make it to the gym day in and day out no matter what the weather is like or how you feel (unless you are sick of course).
