How To Stay Motivated With Home Workouts
We’re getting to that time of year again when motivation in general, starts to lag. New Year resolutions have fizzled out and people are feeling a bit fed up - the fact we’re stuck at home because of lockdown and are still in the midst of a global pandemic doesn’t exactly help either! I’ve definitely found this lockdown the hardest of the three, but it’s so important to try and stay motivated and not give up!
So, here are my top tips to keep you motivated during this crazy time:
1. Plan ahead
It’s a really good idea to plan your week in advance rather than wing it as you go. On Sundays, take a bit of time to plan your week and the days you want to train. Allocating a specific spot in your diary to work out will really help keep you motivated and organised - not to mention the satisfaction you’ll get from ‘ticking’ it off your list!
2. Designate space
Try having a specific space dedicated to your workouts, with your mat and equipment all there ready to go. Having it all set out will give you no excuse! If you’ve planned a workout in the morning, I’d recommend preparing the area the night before (I even do this with my clothes if I know I’m getting up early to train, trust me it’s a life saver, especially for those early starts!).
3. Accountability
Find someone or something that’ll hold you accountable for your workouts and reaching your goals! A friend who you can workout with (virtually), an online class at a specific time each week, a coach or personal trainer who you can have weekly check-in calls and training sessions with! Whoever it may be, their added push can really help motivate you!
4. Be Realistic
Being realistic is crucial to maintaining motivation, it’s so much better to set yourself up for two sessions a week rather than cancel four! Being realistic will help you to stick to a steady structure and encourage you to keep going, rather than burning you out and making you want to quit!
5. Set Goals
Finally, and most importantly, is goal setting. I really cannot highlight this enough! Goal setting is essential for success. So often I see people fleetingly turning up to classes and doing workouts here and there, simply because they think they ‘should do something’. For me this is not training - it’s exercise. There’s nothing wrong with this, but it is where a lot of people get lost and struggle with motivation. They feel as though they don’t have a purpose and don’t know what to do next!
If you feel you need help with this, I would definitely encourage you to get a coach that can help you identify your goals. I promise that it will dramatically change your outlook on training and exercise, and really motivate you to push yourself!
Tracking your progress and testing your goals, will help you to see your improvements and inspire you to keep going. This doesn’t just apply to weight loss, but a whole number of things, such as strength gains, mobility improvements, step goals, etc. Goal setting will really enhance your determination and help give you that purpose!
Remember that a lack of motivation is inevitable at times, especially during the current climate. It won’t always be at a high, which is why it’s important to remain focused on the small things and sometimes break them down into more manageable forms, according to how you’re feeling. Most importantly though, remember to be kind to yourself and go at your own pace, it’s okay to have a bad day! If you find yourself lacking in motivation, try some of the above tips to pick yourself back up again!