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How to Motivate Yourself to Go to the Gym

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Exeter chapter.

We’ve all been there, pressing the snooze button on our alarms enough times that we oversleep and don’t go to the gym at all. It’s very hard to motivate yourself to go to the gym, especially with the fragmented routine that uni often makes us have. However, if you follow these simple tips you’ll be motivated in no time!

 

Set yourself a goal

Going on holiday? Going travelling? Got a big event? Think of a final goal that you want to achieve. Find a date you want to have achieved your goals by and make it visible. Stick it on your pinboard, or your mirror. Being reminded of this goal on a daily basis will give you the energy you need to get yourself to the gym.

Don’t overdo it

If you aim to go to the gym too much in one week or ask for too much from your body, you’re only going to be disappointed when you’re too tired and you can’t do it. Be realistic. Listen to your body and understand yourself, and set yourself achievable targets. Want to hit that squat PB this week? Awesome. Make weekly targets and DON’T overdo it. Progress will always be gradual!

Reward yourself

Give yourself something to look forward to once the gym session is over. Whether it be a nap, a carby meal (you earned it don’t forget) or pampering yourself, make sure that there’s something to look forward to when you get back from the gym. This will ensure that you get up and go.

Track your progress

Keep a track of the weights you achieve, and take pictures of your physique throughout your training periods. A lot of the time, you’re making more progress than you might think, so reminding yourself of how far you’ve come already will surely enable you to keep on going. 

Good luck, girls – we’ve got this!

I am a second year student studying Politics with Sociology at the University of Exeter. I have a passion for exercise, fitness, and writing.