Maintaining your motivation to exercise can be a struggle especially with a busy and hectic lifestyle, but also when the colder weather arrives too. There have been many times when I’ve hit the snooze button 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.
Winter is all about warm cosy nights and hot chocolate to me (total hygge cliché!), but over time I know that I will find myself getting into a routine which just clicks into place and works with my love of hibernating during this season. I have established some methods which work great for getting me out of bed and ready to workout in the mornings or afternoon too. CHANGE THINGS UP
CHANGE THINGS UP
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. I’m pretty flexible and if I don’t fancy doing what’s on my workout plan then I will swap it for something that suits me more that day. Well, they do say that variety is the spice of life…
DO WHAT YOU LOVE
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 resources.
UPDATE YOUR WORKOUT WARDROBE
For me, there is nothing better than buying some new funky workout gear to get up and ready to exercise. I love funky leggings and vibrant tops, which are certainly going to brighten up any grey winter day.
HAVE A KICK ASS PLAYLIST
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 mix of genres on my playlists such as pop, R n’ B, hip-hop, and indie – the variety helps prevent any boredom creeping in.
DO WHAT YOU LOVE
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 resources. And if you really get into things and find that you’re enjoying what you’re doing, you might want to consider a personal trainer course so you can help others get healthier too.
MAKE A NOTE OF YOUR PROGRESS
Tracking your progress as you workout is great motivation if you are like me and like a challenge. Recording your mileage or amount reps makes sure that you are challenging your body and improving with every workout, so you will see results quicker.
At the moment I’m a massive fan of my Fitbit Charge 2 that I’ve been sent to try. I’m trying to reach 10,000 steps a day and it acts as a fantastic reminder to move my body gently throughout the day, especially when I spend so much time at my desk. It’s definitely helping me to stay accountable and keep my fitness levels up.
I know that I am very lucky because I enjoy working out and I love how great it makes me feel afterward. However, it can be difficult to feel motivated when all you want to do is keep warm under the duvet. I think in these cases it is important not to put too much pressure on yourself or feel guilty if you cannot fit in a workout or just don’t feel like it that day. You can get an equally good workout in 30 minutes and there is no point in forcing yourself to exercise, it’s all about having fun!
HOW DO KEEP YOURSELF MOTIVATED TO WORK OUT IN THE COLD WEATHER? DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNINGS WHEN AUTUMN ARRIVES?
I haven’t tried tracking my workouts yet but I think it’s a good thing to do as only like that you can see how active you really are and whether you need to put more time into your workouts. In winter I always find myself less motivated to exercise but what really helps is if I have some kind of goal or focus in mind. I like challenges as well and lately I’ve been doing really tough workout DVD, a real challenge for me, but because of that I felt really motivated so I would do more and more of it until I could see my fitness really started to improve.