3 Ways to Stay Motivated (even when you’re not)

I’ve been in the fitness industry for most of my life in some capacity or another. I’ve watched my health evolve over the years, and I’ve also seen it happen in countless others’ lives.

Over and over, I see a common theme. We get tripped up on looking for the proper diet, the perfect amount of cardio, the answer to the question “Are carbs bad?” or whatever other quick fix to our problems there is. Still, we fail to look at one of the most significant factors in determining our capacity to successfully integrate a long-term, healthy lifestyle.

Motivation. 

How do we stay motivated to do the things that keep us happy and healthy when we don’t want to, when they’re hard, or when we don’t care? 

Here are 3 ways to stay motivated (even when you’re not).

1. Know your why.

First and foremost, it’s always been vital for me to connect to the reason why I want to be committed and dedicated to this lifestyle in the first place. And for me, that has a lot to do with my health and how I want to treat my body.

Just think, by working out a minimum of 3 times a week, you get these significant health benefits:

– Jumpstart your metabolism and have more energy

– Improve your sleep and your mood

– Strengthen your memory and boost your creativity & confidence

– Reduce your risk of cancer

– Show up as a better partner, worker, boss… you name it!

It’s evident, by just these few simple facts alone, that a life lived without movement is far less vibrant and enjoyable than the one lived with it.  

Write your “why” down somewhere, find a picture that embodies it, and use it as the screensaver on your phone or tell your spouse so that when you make excuses, they remind you why you began in the first place.

By connecting to the reason that moves you to want to create this new habit, you can tap into this emotional reserve on days when you don’t feel like doing it.

2. Set yourself up for success. 

If you’re trying to wake up early to go to the gym, it won’t serve you very well to stay up late the night before binge-watching The Bachelorette. By creating a routine and eliminating roadblocks to success, my clients find that they’re much more likely to stick to their guns when planning their weekly workouts.

It could be as simple as moving your alarm clock across the room so you can get out of bed, promising your best girlfriend that you’ll meet her for a morning run, or telling your trainer you’ll be at the gym after work. You know your habits and excuses, so setting things in place that move you toward your goals will help limit those excuses in moments when you least want to show up.

3. Just do it. 

This is a big one. The truth is; motivation comes and goes. There will be days, maybe weeks, when you struggle to stick to your goals. Do it anyway, even when you don’t want to.

Just choosing to get out of bed and lacing up your shoes is enough to stir up the inspiration you were lacking. Driving to the gym when you only want to drive home will begin to get you in the frame of mind to kick butt in that workout. An old saying goes, “Move a muscle, change a thought,” meaning if you take action- the motivation will follow.

Set your health goals and figure out what motivates you to achieve them. Then, use these tips and any of your own to start walking towards your best self…today.

And if you’re looking for a tribe of women to motivate you along the way, consider joining one of our group classes and instantly find yourself part of a community of parents on the same path as you.

Can you do it alone? Sure. But we are far better together!