Feel like you always say you’re going to go to the gym yet somehow never actually make it there? Well that’s over. Read on!
1. Change into your gym clothes as soon as you wake up
Don’t give yourself a single chance to skip out on the gym! Wake up and get dressed in your workout clothes immediately, like Tufts freshman Alex Horvitz. “I get motivated to go to the gym by waking up and getting dressed in my workout clothes right away,” Alex says. “That way, I feel silly coming home at night in my gym clothes not having worked out.”
2. Find a fitness role model
Everyone has that one friend who takes fitness to the next level. She’s the girl who never skips a zumba class, can bench-press more than the boys, and actually knows what all those crazy machines in the weight room do. Enlist her in your workout efforts! Schedule gym dates with your own personal workout guru, and let her awesome energy and motivation rub off on you.
3. Schedule something that requires training
Having a 5K or another race coming up will hold you accountable for working out. Take it from HC Mount Holyoke writer Elizabeth Schmitt. “I run two races in the summer, one long one and one short one,” Elizabeth says. “That way, I know I have to get in shape and build mileage and strength. It helps because you know you’ll feel so accomplished after you cross the finish line.” Feeling intimidated? Check out our guide on how to train for a 5K.
4. Reward yourself!
Treat yourself to a mani-pedi or a massage if you work out every other day for a month. Or follow HC Appalachian State writer Anne Buie’s lead. “I put a dollar in a jar every time I work out,” Anne says. “I save up for a cute new dress or something to show off the results of my hard work.”
5. Find workout clothes you feel cute in
It never fails - if there’s a cute outfit involved, you’re more likely to fulfill any obligation. Take yourself on a shopping trip and pick out workout clothes that suit your style. Try a top with a unique design, like this one. Or add a tee from the HC Shop! The right clothes can also help you work out more efficiently - try leggings with moisture-wicking fabric to stay cool during a run.
6. Don’t just think about the “right now”
Your drive to work out will seriously increase if you remember how much it will affect your future. Take it from collegiette Carolyn, whose motivation comes from seeing older people who are also working out. “There is not a time when I’m at the gym and I don’t question how they’re not all out of breath,” Carolyn says. “It clicks each time that it’s because they’ve continued going to the gym for so long - their bodies are able to work more efficiently.”
7. Treat it like any other commitment
Don’t think of that gym visit you scheduled as an option - if you’re serious about your health, it’s just as necessary as the other items on your to-do list. “Treat it like class time,” says Alexa Johnson, Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus JMU. “Every Monday and Wednesday after my last class, I go straight to the gym and work out.”
