This week I have been feeling TIRED. It has been a really busy week for me, and so I haven’t been getting enough sleep. However, a late bed time doesn’t change the fact that my alarm goes off at 5:00 AM. In fact, that late bed time makes the 5 AM wakeup call very, very real. I have noticed that whenever I’m feeling tired, I feel far less motivated to workout. I’m guessing you’ve felt the same way a time or two. This morning I was feeling tired, yet again, but I decided to just get moving and see what happened. Lucky for me, Cody my awesome coworker came and decided to workout with me. What a difference it made!?!? She got me going. We just chatted and sweated together, and before I knew it I was done. It got me thinking about overcoming a lack of motivation, and what helps me to do so. Whenever I am feeling less than thrilled to get sweaty, the following helps to keep me on track.
- Ask myself how I’ll feel if I don’t workout. In most cases, I know I’ll be bugged at myself if I don’t get at least SOMETHING in. I always feel better when my workout is over. It is the absolutely truth. There are some days when the body really is exhausted, overworked, or when feeling ill is REAL. In these cases, listen to your body. Sometimes you do need a break. However, make that the exception, not the rule.
- I remind myself of my goals. When I start to feel lazy I remind myself that wishing I looked or felt different isn’t going to do much. WORKING will. If you want to achieve goals, you are going to HAVE to be willing to put some work in.
- Find a buddy! This helps me a TON. Working out with others is always more motivation than working out alone. Sometimes I need my therapeutic exercise time, but if I am in a slump, working out with others helps to get me going.
- I do what I like. There are days when I may have been planning on doing sprints or intervals, and the very thought just seems impossible. However, getting in a good circuit may sound more doable. In those cases I’ll make an exception and switch it up.
- TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. This is huge. If you aren’t eating right, getting enough sleep, drinking water, and trying to take care of your body, chances are you may feel crappy. When we feel crappy, we tend to resist wanting to exercise. When we are in a positive cycle of taking care of ourselves, we see exercise as a beneficial thing, and we want to keep going.
- Set realistic goals and track them. A great way to stay motivated is to note your progress. Set goals that are attainable, and work to achieve them. Doing so will help you to stay in a positive cycle.
- Find some new jams. I am a HUGE advocate of the power of music. It can be SO motivating. If you are needing some new music ideas look HERE at my workout playlists for some new suggestions.
- Mix it up. Doing the same thing everyday is not only completely boring, but it is also allowing your body to fall into a mode of ease. Keep yourself challenged and your body guessing by mixing up what you are doing.
- Just start doing something. Chances are you’ll probably surprise yourself. If you just get going, more often than not you’ll keep going.
Kettlebell high sumos: Hold the KB with both hands in a wide stance. Squat down touching the kb to the ground, straighten up swinging the KB into an upright row.
Kettlebell rows in a lunge: Get into a deep lunge with your right leg back. Rest your left elbow on your left leg. Keep your back flat and row back with your right elbow.
Alternating bosu mt. climbers: Place the rounded side of the bosu down. Get on top of it in a pushup position. Alternate bringing one knee into your chest at a time. You can actually do these without a bosu if you don’t have one by just getting into a pushup position on the floor.
Thanks for keeping me going today Cody! xoxoxo