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How to Motivate Yourself When You Don’t Feel Like Working Out

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

We’ve all been there; when the idea of working out sounds like the worst possible idea imaginable. I know I’ve faced the most terrible slumps of laziness and self-pity. I’m not sure about you, but I believe that feeling bad about yourself and lack of exercise often go hand-in-hand.

Don’t worry though, I’ve developed an “action” plan to tackle the daunting feeling of getting back into a workout routine. These four steps include:

  1. Put it on your calendar – pick a time of the day and physically write it down (or set an electronic reminder).

  2. Lay out your workout outfit the day before. Try your favorite pair of leggings and top!

  3. Redo and revamp your music playlists! An upbeat, updated, and fun playlist is likely to get you in the mood to start moving.

  4. If needed, find a buddy! Someone who is looking to get back into the workout grind and take back control of how they feel.

As painful as working out sounds, you will feel SO much better afterwards. Learning to prioritize working out will gradually turn it into a habit and you will find yourself getting excited to workout. Also, don’t kill yourself getting back into a routine. Be realistic and start out small. Once you are able to fully implement exercise into your routine, your body will adjust and your stamina will increase. You don’t have to hit the ground running with a seven minute mile pace for miles on end; you can start with a brisk early morning or late night walk around the neighborhood. Anything and everything counts.

After weeks and months without a quality sweat session, exercise seems like an impossible task. However, the amazing thing about your body is that it will still let you move! So find some time, lace up your gym shoes, plug in your headphones and get groovin’.

 

 

 

Thumbnail Image Source: https://greatist.com/sites/default/files/hiit-workout_0.jpg 

 

Emma Komrska

Cincinnati

I am currently a Junior at the University of Cincinnati. In my free time, I love to explore new kinds of workouts, check out the latest trending shows on Netflix, & meet empowering women on/off campus. If you have any questions for me I would love to answer them at emmakomrska@gmail.com ENJF // "love does does not keep a record of wrongs"