Are you ready to start working out again? If you are then you likely don’t need motivation ideas to restart your workout. Lucky you! But if you’re like me and took a few months off to move, enjoy the holidays or simply take a break, then getting back into the habit of going to the gym is tough. Like, really, really tough.
If you’re struggling with finding the motivation to workout, here are 10 fresh sparks to get you there. But beware, this is not your typical list.
10 Ways To Find Motivation To Workout Again
The Workout Outfit
Have you ever noticed how better you feel when you dress for the occasion versus schlepp your way through it? That feeling is also true for the gym, a run or however you choose to workout. Dressing for the part makes you feel like you own it, that you look good and that you have to put it to work.
If your workout wear or gear is tired, then buy something that’s not going to make you feel tired. Who wants to go to the gym when you hate your own appearance? I know I don’t. In fact, I have my Nike cart loaded right now with new training pants options (that are on super sale by the way) because I’m sick of my faded, saggy bottom, 6-year-old pants.
I’m not talking about make-up and hair or any of that. This is simply about the technical aspect. The sneakers, the outfit, the gloves or even the hairbands.
And if you spend the money on workout wear, you will find the motivation to workout again because you’ll have spent money on something that feels a bit selfish. The guilt disappears if you wear and use it. Often. 👟
Self Development Time
It took me a move abroad to figure this one out. I always felt too busy to spend time on continuously learning. And truth be told, I was insanely busy and overwhelmed. The idea of investing time to learn something new wasn’t even on the radar unless it was mandatory for work purposes.
But then I discovered podcasts. Although it had been recommended thousand times over to listen to this or that podcast by my hip team members, I never took the time because I didn’t think I had the time.
Podcasts and working out are now synonymous with one another. It’s time for developing yourself – both mind and body. It’s amazing how fast the time on a treadmill goes by if you’re tuned into something inspiring.
Not sure how to find a podcast? Go to your phone, find the Podcasts app on your phone or download from the App Store and search for that person or thing you’ve been wanting to learn about for ages. And if you’re still not sure, try Do It Scared by Ruth Soukup. A few of her stories will introduce you to more podcasters. Before you know it you’ll be doubling your workout time.
Working Out With Purpose
Finding a purpose might be the greatest motivation to workout again. I wasn’t ready at all after nearly two months off the workout routine but I thought about my motivation to workout, my mom, and pulled myself together. I strapped on my trainers and went for a 3 mile run without even thinking more about it. That’s all it took. 🏃🏼♀️
See, last year I completed two fundraising runs to raise awareness and money for cancer. This year my plan is to do three. It was only a 5K and 10K but the people that I ran for and the purpose behind it to help others inspire me to keep going. In fact, this year my goal is 3.
There are fundraising events for nearly everything. Find your passion, your reason, your motivation and sign up. That will be the spark to kick your workout into gear again.
Sleep Quality And Appearance
It sounds so cliche but it’s true. If sleep quality is off track then it might be time to start working out again. We’ve all heard it from medical researchers like John Hopkins Medicine, “People who engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise may see a difference in sleep quality that same night.” 😴
Just one night people! How amazing is that?
And if it the motivation to workout isn’t about sleep quality, then how about appearance? Not the losing weight kind but the overall “I just feel better” kind. The scale is rarely a measure of your actual appearance. I truly believe appearance is based upon your own innate measure without the use of a scale.
If my skin feels dry, my body lame, or weight on the upper echelon, a workout ignites the cells to a point that everything just seems brighter, lighter and healthier.
Splurge On A Suit
Maybe a work suit or perhaps a bathing suit. 👙😳
If it’s winter and you know you have something coming up, like a beach holiday, a high school reunion or a conference that you’re presenting at, imagine your new body in that new suit. Buy it. Own it. And rock it.
Hang it up in your closet, on a mirror, or somewhere visible to remind you every day.
Start shopping now and let that be your motivation to workout again.
Visualization Of A Futuristic You
Along the lines of buying a suit but more than that. It could be a visualization of:
- Imagining a healthier you overall.
- A photo of you rocking that suit you bought that doesn’t quite fit perfectly yet.
- Spending time with your kids or grandkids 5-10-20 years from now.
- Crossing the London Marathon finish line.
- Looking younger and healthier than years before.
- Completing a self-development goal that you never thought possible.
I could go on but I think you get the point. Perhaps the actual workout isn’t motivating enough but what’s beyond the workout is. If you’re a highly visual person than imagining the outcome of a workout is likely not enough. You need to see it.
Picture the outcome you seek from working out. Write it down. Take a picture, article or something physical that relates to the outcome. Put it somewhere that you’ll see every day, like a daily planner, wallet or where you keep your toothpaste.
Unite the visual future outcome with a workout to get you there. 🌈
Competition
If you can’t say no to a challenge, then one of the easiest ways to find the motivation to workout again is through competition.
We’ve all been asked at some point to join a step challenge and mobile technology makes it nearly impossible to find an excuse to say no. But why would you say no if you like competition? 😉
Ask friends, colleagues, neighbors or even one of your facebook groups to join a workout challenge. See if you can get at least a handful of people to compete, ask to contribute a small fee, collect the money to buy something desirable for the winner(s) and let the games begin.
Remind everyone that their mobile phone likely has a built-in (free) Health app to track time, steps and overall distance. No excuses!
Setting up a competition could be the easiest spark to working out again. 🏋🏼♀️
Reward Without Guilt
Working out doesn’t mean you have to stop loving the things that you love. In fact, it might be the opposite. Working out might afford you the reward you didn’t think worthy till now. Think about that for a second.
Your motivation to workout again might be to enjoy something you don’t think you have the right to experience. A massage, a facial, a slice of chocolate cake…trippy, huh?
If you love food, then what better way to keep loving it without the guilt? Seriously.
Working out again doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying things you love. Heck, I went to the gym this morning and just crushed 3 dark chocolate biscuits and a cup of tea. Guilt-free.
Now if your health provider says it’s prudent you make food changes, then listen to your health provider. But you still deserve a reward without guilt. Coffee, food, massage…it’s up to you to figure out what that reward is. And go for it. 🍷
Accountability Partner
If you can’t motivate yourself to workout again then find someone that will. This could be your partner, a friend, or someone at your gym. Let this person know that you need and seek their help to hold you accountable for working out again.
If you struggle with knowing anyone to help you with this, then sign up for a training lesson or a class at your local gym. Tell him or her that you need their help. They are trained at this sort of thing and will point out to you every day how happy they are to see you back and expect to see you again. And again.
A gym staff member does this to me every time I’m in the gym. I never asked him to but his brief daily acknowledge of me truly makes me feel accountable to show up the next day. And when I don’t, he wants to know why. #noexcuses
So if you can’t find a way to motivate yourself to workout again, find and rely on an accountability partner that will.
Sense Of Belonging
If you’ve read this far then I hope this last idea is the one that resonates. It’s one of a couple that was my spark to workout again after nearly the entire summer off in 2017.
After big life changes and knowing not a single person aside from my immediate family in the UK, I sought the gym as a way to meet people. Even though I’m introverted and throwing myself in the middle of a group of people to say “Hi” is my worse nightmare, I needed to feel like I was a part of something.
Despite my best girl (because my hubs is #1) workout partner living 6k miles away, working out with my digital partner (yes, I’m referring to my mobile phone) alongside other like-minded individuals makes me feel like I belong. Not to mention I have made an acquaintance or two along the way, including my accountability partner (even though he doesn’t even know it).
If you’re in a place of unfamiliarity, homesickness, loneliness or just feeling uncertain, the results felt after a workout with others trying to accomplish the same might be the best motivation to workout again.
What Will Be Yours?
Some people are simply gifted with the ability to keep their workout going in the midst of chaos and the busiest times of the year. While I’d like to say I have the endurance for that, logistics get in the way. Especially over school breaks and the holidays.
But starting up again is easier than you think if you have the right motivation to workout. Focus in on the 10 and find that spark that motivates you. 💪🏻
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