If you fell out of your fitness routine during the first half of 2020, few people would call you lazy. This year has seen unprecedented disruption in daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, working out offers one of the best ways to alleviate the tension you feel. Once you get off the couch, you’ll feel better. How can you motivate yourself to do so? The following seven tips should get you moving again.
1. Count Every Step
Is your life hectic because you had to run to various stores to find the depleted items you needed? Did you download a pedometer app to your phone to count your steps while you did so? If you haven’t, give it a try. You can find free versions for both Android and iPhones.
Why should you take this step? Psychology tells us that you find your motivation faster when you feel good about yourself. If you set a goal to walk 7,500 steps daily and see that you already crossed the 5,000-step threshold, you might find the energy to squeeze in a walk after dinner.
2. Set Reasonable and Attainable Goals
If you set unrealistic goals, you’ll shoot your motivation in the foot when it’s already running low. For example, saying you want to lose 10 pounds in one week will set you up for disappointment. Most people can manage 1-2 pounds weekly — you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when you nail it.
The same goes for your workouts during stressful times. If you lost your job due to COVID-19, you might have had to take on several low-wage positions to make ends meet. If you have 65 hours on the schedule, you probably won’t have time to train for a marathon. That doesn’t mean throwing in the towel, but it does mean paring down your exercise routine.
3. Squeeze in Sneak Fitness Attacks
Do you get a 15-minute break morning and afternoon at your workplace? If so, why not use that time to squeeze in a quick workout? You can take a brisk walk around the grounds or run up and down the stairs if the weather is inclement. You can also keep a light set of hand weights or resistance bands in your desk or locker to do some toning when you get a breather.
4. Let the Music Play
Do you ever notice how you feel more energetic when your favorite tune comes on the radio? Music reduces fatigue and increases stimulation — the ideal mindset for getting in a workout. The next time you don’t feel like hitting the gym, dock your phone and pump up the jams. Even if you don’t don your leggings, you can work up a sweat dancing around your living room — and bust stress naturally.
5. Take Your Routine Outside
Merely venturing outdoors has a marked destressing effect, and you may find that the fresh air and sunshine encourages you to finish your routine. If it’s a beautiful day, but you feel unmotivated, promise yourself to spend 10 minutes in the sun. Chances are, you’ll feel like tackling the last 20 minutes.
6. Find a Fitness Buddy
Working out with a friend helps keep you motivated because it eliminates excuses. This boost comes in handy during stressful times when you might feel more tempted to stay in and watch Netflix instead of running three miles or going to Zumba. However, if you know you will disappoint your best friend by leaving them waiting, you’ll lace up your tennies, no matter how reluctantly.
7. Consider It Therapy
When everything has you down, practice saying, “I need to hit the heavy bag” instead of “I need a drink.” Working out is as effective as antidepressants for some when it comes to beating the blues. Plus, you won’t wake up with a hangover.
Keep up With Your Fitness Goals
When life gets stressful, it’s challenging to keep up with your fitness routine. However, it is one of the best natural remedies against despair, so use these tips to motivate yourself to make working out a priority.
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