I’m sure we can all agree that it feels great to wake up with a fire under us to get to the gym and workout, but the reality is. . . MOTIVATION COMES AND GOES!
If we wake up each day and think to ourselves, “I hope I get the motivation to workout today,” chances are that workout just won’t happen. The stressors of the day and our own mindset will take over, and we will likely skip our workout. If we do this day-after-day, oftentimes we end up giving up altogether!
You can have the most motivating workout partner, attend the most motivating fitness classes and even have the most motivating trainers, BUT if you don’t make it to that workout, all of that doesn’t matter! We all get in a funk sometimes and want to skip our workouts, so the question is. . . HOW DO WE STAY ON TRACK WHEN WE’VE LOST OUR MOTIVATION TO WORKOUT?
I have ONE KEY PIECE OF ADVICE. . . . SCHEDULE YOUR MOTIVATION!!!!
This may seem simple, but it puts your decision-making about working out (or any other behavior) on autopilot, which is required if you want to develop a lifelong habit! Giving your goals a time and place to exist will make you more likely to follow through without relying on motivation alone!
The bottom line is you can’t keep waiting for motivation to get you to workout. . . instead you’ve got to schedule your habits so you don’t have the choice of missing! This is the difference between someone who has worked out regularly for many years versus the beginner. People who are fit (and have practiced this lifestyle for years) have set a schedule to workout and they stick to it, regardless of motivation. Beginners, on the other hand, rely on motivation and will-power, which is NEVER a constant, thus making it impossible to create a new habit!
HABITS HAVE 3 PARTS:
- Cue/Trigger
- Pattern/Routine
- Reward
For working out it would look something like this:
- Cue: Alarm Clock rings, clothes are set out ready to go!
- Routine: You complete your workout.
- Reward: You feel GREAT, because it’s nearly impossible to feel bad or regret doing something good for your body!
REPEAT!
Once a habit has been formed, it’s easier to stay motivated and on track! The hardest time to stay motivated is when a behavior is brand new! So I encourage you to STICK WITH IT! Schedule your motivation by setting a time and place for your goals!
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Thank you for this, Carrie! I know how important routine is for so many things in my life. This article serves as a reminder to have a schedule. As a stay at home mom, I often find myself winging it around my daughter’s schedule. I love what you’re doing for all of us that are part of Dumbells Defined! Thank you!
Thanks Victoria! Rituals are so important and instead of us dictating our days, we can often find ourselves allowing the days to dictate us! I enjoy sharing my passion for health, and I love reading your comments!