Do you struggle to fit in workouts during busy periods or just lack motivation recently?  If yes, read on as this post is for you.

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Maintaining your motivation to exercise can be a struggle especially with a busy and hectic lifestyle.  There have been many a times when I have had to really work late the night before ,we are talking 10pm here people, hit the snooze button a few times before getting up to workout or completely given exercise a miss that day.  I do recommend resting and not working out if you are just too tired, but on some of these occasions I was just being bone idle and needed to get my butt in gear.  I was always surprised that I manage to fit in my workouts when I was commuting with everything else that I had going on. 

It seems daunting at first, but over time you will find yourself getting into a routine which just clicks into place and works for you.  I have established some methods which work great for getting me out of the door and ready to workout in the mornings:

• Sticking to the same workout routine takes the fun out of exercising.  I like to change-up my routine every 4-6 weeks with a variety of exercises ranging from yoga, running, gentle cardio and strength training.  Well they do say that variety is the spice of life!

• Organisation is important for me getting in my morning and evening workouts.  If I didn’t make my lunch to take to work and lay out my gym clothes the night before I would never have had enough time to exercise and get to work on time.  By making extra time for myself by being organised it means that I don’t have to rush around and can easily fit in a quick workout.

• There is no point doing something that you don’t have any interest in as you won’t put your all into the workout and not reap the benefits.  Only do exercises that you enjoy! It isn’t all about the gym where workouts are concerned team sports, rock climbing, hiking and dancing all constitute as exercise, basically anything that gets your heart rate up.  If you’re stuck for inspiration there are some great online sources.

• When I workout playing my favourite songs is a must.  If I am listening to an awesome playlist then I know that I can make it through my workout.  On many occasions I’ve been caught singing (or wailing like a cat!) just because I’m simply having a great time working out to my favourite tunes.  I tend to like a little mix of genres on my playlist such as pop, R n’ B, hip hop and indie – the variety helps prevent any boredom creeping in. 

• Tracking your progress as you workout is great motivation if you are like me and like a challenge.  Recording your mileage or number of reps makes sure that you are challenging your body and improving with every workout, so you will see results quicker.

I’m know that I am very lucky because I enjoy working out and I love how great it makes me feel afterwards.  However, I know it can be difficult to feel motivated when you’re too busy or tired.  I think in these cases it is important not to put too much pressure on yourself or feel guilty if you cannot fit in 1 hour of exercise, you can get an equally good workout in 30 minutes too, it’s all about having fun!  I always have to remind myself that it’s all about the quality and not the quantity when it comes to exercise. 

How do keep yourself motivated to work out?  Do you have any tips on how to fit in workouts during busy periods in your lives?

*post is in association with O2