You know that resolution you made 10 months ago to be more active, workout more, and to be in better shape? Well, Her Campus Oregon is here to help get your booty to the gym!
The season is changing. Goodbye sunny summer days, and so should your fitness routine. Fall is the perfect time to upgrade your fitness routine because there is no pressure to “get fit quick” for bikini-body season. Starting this fall will not only ensure good workout habits, but also help ease the stresses of a new school year. It has been proven over and over again that working out on a constant basis is good for your mind, body, and soul. It relieves stress while giving you energy.
Although we all know working out is important, this is not this part that we struggle with. It is often motivating ourselves to get up and go. Self-motivation can be tricky, especially if you are juggling a full time class load, after school actives, and a busy social life. Here are five easy tips to help motivate you to go to the gym this school year.
1. New Workout Gear
New workout clothes. This may seem crazy but by purchasing or revamping your workout wardrobe will motivate you to get your booty to the gym. Buying a cute new sports bra or a bright pair of leggings will help motivate you to actually workout in them. Buying cute, fashion forward workout clothes that you actually enjoy wearing will instantly makes you feel better about yourself and motivate you to put them to good use.
Recently, I am loving this company called Fabletics. Fabletics is it’s a fitness apparel company owned by Kate Hudson that operates on a monthly membership structure. It is a subscription service that ships fitness clothing to you each month. They focus on complete outfits that are of similar quality and design to LuluLemon (but for a fraction of the price). If you join, your first outfit is only $25, and every month after that you get a 2-3 piece outfit for $49. Also there is no commitment, you can skip a month anytime. When Fabletics appears in my mailbox I drop everything and rush to the gym to workout in them-it really works. Check Fabletics out here and try them for yourself!
2. Buddy System
Schedule a gym date with your friend. Working out with a buddy is not only fun, but can help motivate you to go to the gym. If you plan ahead, you can’t change your mind last minute because of your Netflix-bed coma. If you make commitments with your friends, it forces you to be accountable not back out. Also, it is a great way to catch up with your friend, while being active. Skip the coffee date, have a gym date instead.
3. Try Something New
If our workout routine is the same, we can get bored easily which can result in skipping the gym altogether. Trying something new like a group fitness class or the weight room will not only be beneficial to your overall health but motivate you as well. This term the UO group fitness classes have added POUND classes, which are described as “a rock-out, workout, combining a full-body cardio jam session that fuses Pilates, strength, and plyometrics!” Click here to view the UO rec center 2014 group fitness classes.
4. Schedule It Into Your To-Do List, Treat It Like Any Other Commitment
Writing your workout down in a planner, or putting it on your to-do list will help motivate you to go to the gym. The most important part is to treat working out like any other commitment. You wouldn’t skip class or a group project, so why skip this commitment? Writing it down on paper and specifically scheduling a time in between your busy day will help motivate you to keep a steady workout routine.
5. Reward yourself
The last great way to motivate yourself is to set reward goals. Although working out should be a reward within itself, sometimes we need to set other rewards that will actually get us to go to the gym. Although the first couple of times will be hard, you will find that working out will soon become a routine that you actually enjoy. An example would be if you go the gym 10 times, you could reward yourself with a mani/pedi, or even a fun new workout outfit, or expensive lipstick. It is important to make it something you want-so that ultimately you can achieve your fitness goals. Rewarding yourself for your good workout behavior is a must
Let us know if you use any of these motivational tips, or share your workout secrets in the comment section below!