lack of motivation to exercise

Believe it or not, only 23% of Americans get enough exercise, meaning that 77% don’t. If you’re in this 77% and want to get in better shape, you might find that it can be really hard to motivate yourself to workout.

This is especially the case if you’re starting out, leaving many wondering what to do when you lack motivation to exercise.

Fortunately, there are several tips and tricks that can help you boost – and maintain – your motivation and help you get in shape. So, if you’re suffering from a lack of motivation to exercise, read on for the solution.

Try Different Workouts

Don’t know how to overcome a lack of motivation to exercise? One of the best tips is also one of the most fun: mixing it up.

This means regularly trying different types of exercise, including but not limited to sports, pilates, running, biking, swimming, dancing, and more. Trying a variety of options will help you find the activities that you enjoy doing, and therefore, are more motivating for you. Mixing it up often will also prevent you from getting bored with one type of exercise.

Be Realistic About Your Goals

You should always be realistic about your fitness goals. Unrealistic expectations will only set you up for failure and encourage you to give up when things don’t go as planned. When you’re realistic, you’ll motivate yourself by watching as you meet your goals.

It’s also a good idea to focus your goals on becoming more in shape with a focus on progress instead of bodily expectations. On average, it can take up to 6 weeks before you see physical changes.

Get Enough Sleep

If you’re lacking motivation to exercise, a lack of sleep may be the culprit.

Sleep is critical to your mental and physical health. It helps refresh the mental capabilities that will help encourage you to work out. It also allows your physical body to heal faster, preparing you for continued workouts and better results.

Exercise Outdoors

There are many reasons to exercise outdoors, but one of the most important is that it has been shown to boost one’s mood. A better mood means you’ll enjoy working out more, and in turn, will be more motivated to keep doing it. Nature also reduces stress, and stress is known to cause procrastination.

When trying to stay fit outside, there are many activities for each of the seasons. For example, running may be easier when it’s cooler outside, but swimming is most enjoyable on warm summer days. The changing weather might also encourage you to test new boundaries in your workouts and skillsets.

Keep Track of Your Workouts

A great way to stay motivated in anything is to plan ahead. Planning and keeping track of your workouts will make it easier for you to make time to exercise when you feel busy. It’s also motivating when you’ve specifically set aside time in your schedule for it.

Another bonus to planning ahead is creating a to-do list. Crossing a workout off your to-do list is satisfying and provides a sense of accomplishment that is also motivating.

You can also track how you feel during and after your workouts, and review that data when planning your next ones. It will help you find and remember workouts that are more enjoyable.

Find a Workout Buddy

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why do I lack motivation to exercise?” then a workout buddy could help you. Having someone else to workout with motivates you because you have the obligation of working out with them, making it harder to find excuses not to.

Workout buddies can also verbally motivate each other and make exercising more fun. You may even be tempted to push yourself harder when someone else is watching.

Attend Classes or Get a Trainer

If you can’t find a workout buddy or just want extra motivation, taking gym classes or getting a fitness trainer are great options. Both motivate you in all the same ways that a workout buddy does. They might even work better if you sign up or pay in advance because if you don’t go, you’re wasting money.

With a class or trainer, you also have someone else planning your workout schedule and routines. This makes it easier to workout since all you have to do is show up.

Invest in Workout Gear

Workout gear does more than make you look cuter while working out. It’s intended to make exercising more comfortable, and in some cases, can increase your performance. Both of these are motivation boosters.

Owning different types of equipment will also make it easier to practice different types of exercises, allowing you to mix things up as mentioned above.

Be Safe About Working Out

Being safe while working out is always important, but especially if you’re new. Your body isn’t used to exercising, so it’s easy to pull muscles or injure yourself. You need to make sure that you warm-up and cool down before and after the workout, respectively.

If you get injured, you’ll have to take a break, and you’ll be less motivated to start back up.

Make It a Ritual

Make exercising a ritual with consistency so that you get used to the routine. Our daily habits and activities are the easiest to maintain. You’ll spend less time thinking about when to workout and more time doing it.

You’re also less likely to forget things you need to work out if you have a ritual that you keep up with. For example, if you work out after work every day, you become less likely to forget the change of clothes you need to do it.

Don’t Let Lack of Motivation to Exercise Stop You

A lack of motivation to exercise can be detrimental to your physical health and well-being. People need to work out regularly to maintain a healthy weight and bodily functioning that promotes longevity. If you’re trying to get in shape, don’t let a lack of motivation get in your way.

Use the ten tips in this article, and you’ll find that it only gets easier and easier to exercise over time. Eventually, you may even look forward to it. You can also check out outdoor training with AWATfit to push yourself to your potential.