So you’re 5am alarm rings and it’s time to get your usual work out. But suddenly some unknown force is dragging you back to the bed telling you to stay there and get more sleep. These days, it’s become really easy to lose motivation to exercise. You know you want to get better but you feel tired, what should you do?
Write down your goals
Having your goals written down will not only help you envision them in the beginning. Once you have them on paper, you can always look at them when you’re feeling tired of doing your workouts. Put down both your short-term and long-term goals. Check the goals you’ve achieved so you can look back and see how better you’ve become.
Remember why you started
All of us have reasons to exercise. To some it may be stress-relief, leisure, to get that beach body, or to address health issues. So, when the time comes that you’re feeling extra unmotivated, remember why you started exercising in the first place.
Go with people who motivate you
Always surround yourself with people who will cheer you on and are good motivators. They can help you continue running, finish that last set, and keep you going. This also doesn’t only benefit you as an individual, it leads you to grow and get better together with your companions.
Pretend that a crowd is cheering you on
This is one way to add a little fun to your exercise. You’re jogging at MacRitchie Reservoir or Labrador Park and are already feeling tired, even though you think you can still do more. Imagine that a crowd is there hyping you up and cheering you on. You can even imagine being in a race- you’re in the first position, you cross the finish line… and the crowd goes wild!
Have an exercise rival
The idea of competition can be a great motivating factor. Your rival can be a friend or even someone you completely do not know at all. You can secretly compete with the person/s who are exercising near you and that can be enough to give you a little push.
Think about the end result
In connection to setting goals, picture yourself in the future after all your exercising. Refer to that image of yourself every time you get tired of exercising. Or if you’re a runner, think that nothing can beat the image of having a medal around your neck after a long and tiring run.
Make bets
Make a bet with someone you trust. If you can’t go to the gym, especially with a scheduled workout, you’ll have to pay him/her. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you have to cancel other activities just so you won’t lose a bet. What is meant here is that if you’re looking for an excuse to skip exercise, you won’t be able to do so easily because money is on the line.