“How do I find the motivation to work out every day? Where can I find the drive? How do I avoid burn out? Where do I find the time?” Sadly, there is no magic pill that can be taken to get into the mindset of doing regular workouts.
There are, however, a couple of simple techniques and tricks that everyone can follow to ensure that their motivation and drive remains high and to help them through those days when they just don’t fancy it.
Here are 5 top tips on how to work out every day effectively from online personal trainer Anna Cousins.
Pick workouts that complement your mood
The key here is doing workouts that you enjoy and that suit you at that specific time. If you’re feeling particularly stressed after a tough day at work, then pick an exercise like Boxercise or HIIT. This offers a quick blast and then you’re done, releasing that pent-up aggression and tension along the way.
However, if you are feeling lethargic or having trouble sleeping, then perhaps opt for a low impact workout and a good stretch. Remember you do not need to be doing high impact sessions every day. Slotting in some stretching or yoga will ensure you can do something daily, but without it completely draining you. The most important thing here is that you keep your workouts interesting.
Dress to impress
Invest in some stylish gym clothes that make you feel good. Not only will that post-workout selfie look fabulous on your social feed, but you will feel a million dollars too. You will always feel so much more motivated when you try wearing something you feel good in. This doesn’t mean you have to splash out either, a few quality items which you can pair up together will be more than enough.
Buddy up
Find someone you can work out with who is both fun and committed to the cause. This could be a good trainer, an online community, a friend or even your partner. Often you will find that if you work out with a community of likeminded people, they will give you some great suggestions and inspiration for new workouts or new moves. And of course, if you work with a trainer, then they’ll plan all your sessions for you, so all you have to do is just turn up. Whoever you decide to do a session with, you’ll be less likely to cancel if you have someone depending on you.
Track it
If you keep a track of your workouts on an app or similar, then you’ll be even more inclined to do them. That feeling of ticking a box or adding another entry will be really motivating. And why not put in place a reward system too? And no, not talking about gold stars or chocolate treats here. Instead, why not reward yourself with a new pair of fitness leggings or a fitness tracker if you manage to get through a full month of sessions?
Shout about it
This may sound bizarre, but alongside talking yourself into doing the workout, shout about it to others too. If you publicise your workout on social media or mention it to a partner, you’re more likely to do it. Even just saying it out loud can help too. Give it a try!
