Do you work out consistently? Or do you go hard every day for a week and then give up? Or, maybe, you are looking for a new avenue to explore with your fitness journey? Whichever one relates, gym and exercise consistency can be a challenge, BUT it’s a challenge worth tackling for the long-term.
Adopting gym and exercise consistency takes continuous effort, dedication and habit building. Without disappointing you, it doesn’t happen overnight – it’s a journey. Whether you’re tired from work, have family commitments, exam stress or you’re trying to balance everything in your life with an optimal equilibrium. We feel you!
No matter where you’re at in your journey, these gym motivation tips will ensure you’re well informed to tackle your goals and enhance your wellness for the long term. What are you waiting for? Let’s get to it!
We’ll cover:
From the get-go, it’s good to be clear on your goals for the gym. Do you want to get stronger, healthier, and fitter? The sooner you outline your focus and vision for this, the easier it’ll be to map your progress going forwards.
Start simple with your goals and don’t overcomplicate them. This is where an experienced personal trainer or gym instructor would be able to advise. Tailored to your goals, they’ll be able to map out an effective and results-driven journey for you.
This is the time to also outline when you’ll fit exercise into your day and how many times you intend to exercise during the week. Remember, don’t overcomplicate it. This is a journey so, start small and work your way up if you’re a novice. However, if you’re an expert, it might be time to step things up a level and increase the intensity of the exercise you’re doing.
Either way, keep your aspirations achievable so you don’t get overwhelmed. That way, you’re more likely to achieve them.
Once you’re clear on your aspirations, it’s time to think about the steps you need to take to achieve your goal. There’s no need to throw yourself in at the deep end. At Heed Life, we focus on long-term habits, so you can achieve optimal wellbeing consistently throughout your lifetime.
You don’t want to burn yourself out and the best way to avoid this is by setting small goals which will eventually lead to long-term habits. If you always give up after the first week, or you’re finding it hard to sustain gym motivation, then it’s time to start small.
As an example, maybe this year you want to increase the exercise you’re doing and you’re keen to start in the gym. This is great! But let’s not overwhelm your schedule. Think realistically about when you can train in the gym – will it be morning, during the day or evening? Can you commit to 2-5 times a week? How much time do you have for each session, can you dedicate 20 minutes or 60 minutes? All of these factors will determine the small steps you take.
This can lead to the actionable steps you’ll take. One week you’ll commit to three gym sessions that are 30-45 minutes in length with rest periods throughout. Once you’ve achieved this consistently over a four/eight-week period, you may choose to UP the intensity and increase your sessions. Of course, this is just a rough guide. We always recommend that you speak to a professional first, before changing, starting or adapting your exercise regime.
If you experience a lack of gym motivation or you find it hard to enjoy exercising alone, it might be time to recruit a friend! Some people enjoy exercising alone and others enjoy exercising with someone else or a group of people.
If you exercise with a friend, you’re more likely to stick to your commitment because if you don’t, you’ll be letting them down too. You may work harder with someone else around and let’s not forget, it’s great fun too. If the gym is a daunting environment for you, joining a friend might be the encouragement you need to get moving.
This is also a great way to lead by example. The more you enhance your own wellbeing, the more you’ll inspire those around you to take a similar approach – meaning you definitely won’t be alone on this journey!
Being prepared means you’ll be one step ahead and you’re more likely to stick to consistent gym exercise habits. Some of the ways you can be prepared include: getting your gym outfit ready before leaving the house, having an exercise plan to stick to, scheduling time in your diary for exercise, having the right training shoes and more.
If you tend to procrastinate, become disorganised or struggle with your motivation for the gym, being prepared will give you that head start and stop negative thoughts in your tracks. If you’ve just finished work and you’re exhausted, the last thing you want to do is piece a gym outfit together and think of a workout to follow. Being prepared ahead of time will provide mental clarity and the gym motivation you need.
These changes are small but can add up to a bigger picture in the long run. Even something as small as preparing your gym clothes the night before can make all the difference and get you one step closer to exercising.
If you’re committed to bettering yourself, that’s an achievement in itself. As you progress along with your exercise regime and well-being journey, it’s important to highlight the small victories along the way. Gym motivation does take consistent work and it doesn’t come easy. If you complete a workout successfully, that’s great! If you consistently exercise during the week, that’s fantastic.
Juggling life commitments and many other things can be overwhelming. Adding exercise into the mix can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Every victory that gets you closer to feeling better and healthier is a win to celebrate.
If you reward yourself along the way, you’ll be more inclined to stay focused and reach those incentives. You might choose to treat yourself to a new outfit, an evening of pampering, a new book or a game. Whatever you decide, celebrate your milestones – you deserve it.
Experiencing low gym motivation levels is normal. Feeling tired is normal. Feeling uninspired to exercise is normal. Your motivation will ebb and flow and they’ll be many factors that will contribute to this – the seasons changing, your environmental circumstances, your social life and your commitments.
If you’re committed to implementing some of the ideas we’ve shared, you’ll be equipped to create habits for longevity. But always remember, you’re human and things will change.
Even just getting outside each day for 10 minutes can work wonders for your mental and physical health. Although these motivation tips are directed towards the gym, that isn’t the be-all and end-all of exercise. There are many ways you can exercise and move your body.
Make sure that whatever decision you make, it’ll enhance your life and doesn’t hinder your progress. You’re doing this to feel good, right? Well, never lose sight of why you started – this is the beginning of GREAT THINGS.
The best motivation for the gym is to think about how good you will feel afterwards. You’ll be refreshed, your skin will glow, and you’ll feel more alert and alive. Not only that, but you’ll also be setting a good example for others and helping to break the stereotype that all athletes are bulky, muscle-bound individuals.
So don’t think of going to the gym as a chore or a sacrifice; think of it as an opportunity to boost your energy, improve your appearance, and feel great about yourself. And who knows? You may even enjoy it!
There are a number of ways to motivate yourself to work out. The most important thing is to find something that works for you.
Some people prefer having a friend or family member join them in their workouts, while others prefer listening to music or watching television. Some people even find the outdoors motivating and enjoy running or biking outside.
The best way to find out what works for you is to experiment until you find something that makes working out enjoyable. Once you’ve found something that you enjoy, it will be much easier to stick with it and make regular exercise a habit.
If you’ve lost your motivation for the gym, it can be tough to get back on track. Here are a few tips that might help:
Find a new workout routine or class: If your current routine is feeling stale, shake things up by trying something new. There are tons of great workout classes out there, so find one that sounds fun and challenging.
Set some goals: It can be helpful to set some specific goals to help you stay motivated. Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, or just improve your overall fitness, having tangible goals will help keep you focused.
Make it a habit: One of the best ways to make working out a regular routine and stick to it.
There are many motivators for exercise, but three of the most important ones are maintaining your health, improving your fitness, and managing your weight.
Assuming you want to maintain your health, exercising regularly is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It reduces your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other chronic conditions. And even if you already have a chronic condition such as heart disease or arthritis, exercise can help to control it and improve your overall health.
If you’re looking to improve your fitness, regular exercise will help to increase your strength, endurance, and flexibility. You’ll be able to do more activities without becoming winded or feeling muscle fatigue.
Now you know some key gym motivation tips, we hope you’re feeling more inspired to tackle the gym and prioritise your wellbeing for the future. As well as the gym, there are many other ways you can look after your mental and physical well-being.
But don’t worry, there’s no need to wonder what they are, we’ve compiled them in a FREE Ebook for you. Download your copy TODAY and learn all you need to know about the importance of your own self-care and wellbeing.