How to maintain your exercise motivation

With the busy schedules we all have to maintain, by the end of the day, we’re usually exhausted. Working out is the last thing we’re thinking about. However, there are simple ways to keep up your motivation and jump on those stationary bikes or fitness treadmills to fit in a workout.

Turn to social media
If you’re struggling to find a reason to workout, fire up Instagram. The platform is filled with motivational quotes, quick workouts and before and after pictures of people who have had success with exercise. Seeing someone in good shape can give you the inspiration you need to get up and get moving. Try searching for a role model of yours on Instagram that, in your eyes, has the perfect body. That image will stick with you and give you constant motivation to reach your goals.

Have your workout materials ready
Sometimes, the most exhausting part of working out is actually getting everything ready. If you plan to sneak in a morning workout, have your clothes and accessories packed and ready to go to the gym. This way, you can just grab everything and go!

Kick out negative thoughts
Thoughts like, “this workout won’t make a difference anyway” or “I never workout well in the morning” can really halt your motivation. Try turning these thoughts around. Instead, try saying or thinking something along the lines of “this workout is a step in the right direction.”

Greg Dale, professor of Sport Psychology and Sport Ethics, told Runner’s World, “It’s important to acknowledge negative thoughts, then to rationalize them with thoughts that are positive, truthful, and relevant to you.”

Grab a friend
Having a buddy to always workout with is one of the best ways to get yourself moving. Chances are, one of the friends is going to hold the other one accountable. You’re much less likely to skip a workout if you have someone encouraging you to workout with them. Having someone there with you can also make exercising more fun!

Explore what works best
Maybe you discover you workout best in the mornings or when you’re listening to music. Either way, find what keeps you motivated, and stick to it.

“Find out what works, then feed it,” sports psychologist Alison Arnold told Runner’s World. “Once you figure out which positive thoughts fuel your best performance, feed them with breathing, music and continued positive self-talk.”