How To Bring Back Motivation In The Gym After The Festive Period
We are now in week three of January and getting back into the gym may have been difficult for you. You might have been one of those who took the foot off the gas at the end of the year for the festive period. You could have also been on the decline before the festive period or, you haven’t exercised in a long time and wish to get fit in the new year.
You may have a goal and want to get back into the gym but something could be putting you off. For some people, it could be the idea of going back into a gym which will be so full you can barely use the machines. Another reason could be you have lost interest in an exercise or sport. You could also be somebody who is struggling to find healthy foods you enjoy. There are endless reasons but we have created a guide that may help you with your fitness goals this year.
Set Yourself A Plan
Having a plan before you begin anything is essential and this includes exercise. It is pointless going to the gym without a plan for the week. You need to know the exercises you will be doing and what muscles you will be training. Will you be performing cardiovascular or strength exercises? All of this is important for the results you want to achieve. Furthermore, writing out a workout plan can be motivational and make your life much easier.
It isn’t just setting yourself a workout plan for the week you need to do either. You will also need to set a food plan and other habits to get back into that healthy routine. Once you get all of this together, you have made the first step towards getting back into the gym.
Ignite The Motivation With A Friend
Another great way to get yourself motivated is by exercising with a friend. It doesn’t matter where they are up to with their fitness goals. You can just exercise with a friend for the company and to show you how to do things if they have done it before. If you have a friend with similar fitness goals to you and you both have a competitive mindset, see who can achieve the goals first. Then whoever wins pays for a meal out or something fun.
Dress For The Occasion
Like anything, you have to dress for the occasion to get in the mood. It could be with work, going out with friends or the gym. You will be amazed at the difference it makes when you put on your gym clothes. It will get you motivated to exercise. Furthermore, some studies have shown that our brains fall for “enclothed recognition”, which is the technical term saying that dressing for the occasion will help with the motivation to do the task. It is why some people choose to dress formally for work even though they can dress down in the office. So, out on your favourite men’s or women’s gymwear and get yourself to the gym.
Start Your Day With Exercise
Exercising in the morning is a great way to start your day. One of the positives about this is that it doesn’t give you time to think about whether you want to go. You can just get out of bed, have a shower, put on your gymwear and get yourself to the gym. You will feel much better and will give serotonin for the day. It might be hard to get up in the morning and get yourself to the gym however, once you get into the habit of it, it will be easy for you.
Mix Up Your Habits
Repeating the same exercises can get boring and repetitive however if you mix it up, you won’t get bored. All you need to do is do a little research and find other exercises which you may enjoy.
Don’t Neglect Recovery Time
Another thing that people forget is to give your body time to recover. It is easy to overwork your body and not giving your muscles time to recover won’t give them time to grow. Furthermore, you are more likely to cause an injury and will need time off from the gym. Give yourself at least three days to recover, depending on how intense your workout is and then you will see and feel the benefits. Injury and fatigue could easily make you feel demotivated for the gym again which isn’t great when it has taken this long.
To Conclude
Motivation is essential to getting yourself back into the gym. It is also vital to keep that motivation during your workouts as well. Once you get past your first week, things will get easier. Once you reach the one-month mark, things will get even easier than that. Good luck!
