We tend to see working out as a chore when in reality it is a luxury that we can set time aside to put our health first. I personally have days where I dread going to the gym and all I want to do is lay on the couch, eating my weight in Chex Mix.
Here are ways you can change your perspective on working out:
Courtesy: Greatist
1. Figure out what works best for you: working out alone or in a group. Everyone is different. My best friend likes to work out alone because she says it is the only time in the day she gets to be alone and listen to the music she likes. For me, I have a hard time pushing myself to the limits by myself.
2. Find fun classes or a nice gym that you’ll actually be excited to go to – I prefer to go to gym classes that I actually enjoy. Maybe crossfit and weight lifting is for you. Maybe barre classes are more your style, or even Zumba. The only way to find out is by trial and error. It could even be a combination of everything. You could enjoy doing a different class each day at the Leach.
3. Say a mantra in your head and hold on to it the entire work out. This is something I have learned throughout the years. It helps when you feel you just can’t keep going. One I like to say is “Focus on the goal, not yourself.” When you’re focusing on the goal, which is finishing the workout, you choose to not think about the sense of discomfort while working out. You want to be able to distract yourself and think about anything besides the discomfort.
4. Try listening to a book, watching a movie or listening to your favorite music while you do your cardio. I learned this from my best friend that likes to work out alone. She has the app Audible and has a certain book that she will only listen to while she works out. This motivates her to get to the gym so she can hear the next part in the book. While she works out, she’s focusing on the book and getting the work out done.
5. Remember that its only an hour of hard work that will set a productive, motivated tone for the rest of your day. You will feel absolutely amazing after and proud of yourself for getting your butt there. The hardest part is getting there and starting the work out. Once you’ve started, you will not want to quit.
6. Research some workouts and set a plan before you go. This way, you won’t just be trying to figure it out as you go and not have a clue what you want to accomplish. You will want to push yourself until you get that work out done. Maybe look at the Leach schedule and set up your weekly plan of the classes you will attend. If you’re working out alone, try to make a plan for leg day, ab day, etc.
7. Set specific goals for your fitness and health. Don’t just make these about “I want abs.” Instead, focus on your personal fitness goals like, “I want to be able to run a 5k in this amount of time.” That way, you will push yourself and train your body to the next level. If abs come in the process, then you killed two birds with one stone!
8. Think of something you get to do once you’re home and done working out. Maybe you’re excited to get right in bed or get to see someone when you get home. Think about that while you work out.
9. Find a time that works best for you. Some people swear that their morning work outs are the only reason they have energy throughout the day. For me, it is the total opposite. Waking up early and going for a work out feels great an hour after, until I’m in class trying to keep my eyes open. Working out in the after noon has always worked best because I am very awake by that time. For others, working out in the morning works best because they get it out of the way and don’t have to think about it for the rest of the day.
10. Some days you may feel like you need an extra boost of motivation to get to the gym. Taking a shot of espresso, drinking coffee or starting a pre-work out regimen may be the answer for those days. However, I would recommend doing that only on the days you feel extra groggy because you want to make working out a habit instead of something you only do when you have a caffeine high.
Hopefully these tips help you get excited and see working out as a luxury. It is something that many people say has changed their lives and not only their bodies. Try to set up a plan and make it into a habit, that way your brain will just go with it and you won’t even think about it. You got this!