The hard part about developing an active lifestyle is not the actual working out sessions. Yes, going on runs for miles and miles or doing a couple of rounds of pull-ups are hard. And it’s especially so if you’re a novice in exercising. But those aren’t the hardest part. Instead, it’s actually staying motivated. When we sign up for gym memberships, we feel this sense of excitement. We’re trying out new things that would lead to a positive outcome for our health.
But then, after a few months, when we’re exhausted from work and our social lives, we barely have the energy to go to the gym anymore. Sometimes, we couldn’t even bear the thought of getting up at six or seven in the morning for a workout session before our whole day begins.
Luckily, there are many ways to stay motivated in keeping an active lifestyle. Here are four things that you can try.
Invest in Proper Equipment
Signing up for a gym membership has many advantages. You would get to enjoy many perks and amenities. You have access to advanced equipment and technology for working out. You can work with experienced trainers. But no one can deny that having your personal workout space at home has its own upsides.
First, there’s the convenience. If you never feel up to going out of the house to go to the gym first thing in the morning, you can just go to your own backyard and get to work. So consider turning your outdoor space into the perfect workout space. Invest in exercise mats. Perhaps you can add an outdoor treadmill or other equipment. And if privacy is your concern as you work out, then hire a vinyl fence contractor to install fences around your outdoor space.
Track your Workout Habits
Many people have said time and again that keeping a bullet journal or planner is the ultimate way of staying on top of your life. It’s the tried and true way of making sure that you stay productive without getting overwhelmed by all of your tasks and commitments. Fortunately, you can also use your bullet journal or planner for your quest to stay active.
Keep a habit tracker for your workouts. Record the exercises you’ve done and the times you’ve done them throughout the week. This may seem like such an arduous and pointless task. But that’s where people often go wrong. You see, by keeping track of such habits, you would get to feel a sense of progress. By treating your workout sessions as tasks, you’ll feel productive every time to accomplish them. And that, in itself, is a very positive feeling that many of us will always crave.
Find your Workout Buddies
Another tried and true way of staying active is finding the right friends to stay active with. This is the secret to making working out a fun affair. If you’re the type to go on a workout after a day at the office, then you and your friends could make a fun night out of it. It could even be a routine for you to look forward to.
Other than your friends, there’s also another workout buddy that you can rely on. And that is your pet dog. With them, you can go on long runs or walks in the morning or night. The best thing about this is that they’re always up for a run outside. And they’re always amped up with an energy that’s so infectious, you can’t help but feel excited to go on a run, too.
Invest in Fancy Activewear
Sure, when you’re planning to exercise, you just need to throw on some comfortable shirt and leggings or sweatpants. What’s the point in dressing up since you’re just going to sweat through your clothing, right? But that’s where most people go wrong.
Much like any event or social affair we go to, there are advantages to dressing up for a workout session. When you’re wearing a really nice pair of leggings and an elegant-looking shirt or sports bra, you would feel a sense of empowerment. By looking good, you’re also feeling confident to start working out.
So the next time you walk into a Lululemon or other activewear retail stores, buy more than just a pair of leggings that you intend to lounge around in. Invest as well in other types of activewear that would make you feel excited about working out.
Motivation is the key to staying active. Setting goals and giving ourselves rewards for working out work well in staying motivated. But for many people, those aren’t enough. They need more incentives for exercising on a regular basis.
The good thing is that there’s no shortage of ways to stay motivated. You just need to find what fits you.
