It’s tough enough to start a new workout program, but it can be even tougher to stay motivated to continue on that path. We tend to think that if we just start, we’ll be well on our merry way with little to worry about. Once we are set in motion, we will remain in motion. But it doesn’t work that way.
Life gets in the way. Family, work, stress, and social obligations crowd out our best-made plans, leaving us derailed and frustrated. Multiple “do-overs” weren’t part of the original equation, so staying motivated becomes a serious challenge.
Let’s look at five ways to stay motivated to work out and what to do when life throws you off balance, so starting over becomes a thing of the past.
Make a plan
A house isn’t built on a whim. You just don’t show up on the lot and start putting up a frame. A detailed plan must be followed so that everything is done right. A workout plan is much the same. You’ll need to write down a structured plan of action. Don’t just show up to the gym and wing it; have a plan in hand ready to go, detailing everything you plan on accomplishing that day.
What to do. Bring a notebook with your plan already written. Take a few minutes to review it and go over what lies ahead. The more foresight you have, the more ownership you’ll possess about what you’re doing. Blindly making it up as you go will provide zero structure, zero progress, and ultimately zero motivation.
Don’t know what to do? Choose a plan, any plan, and stick to it for at least one month. Avoid skipping around from one program to another and have plenty of patience. Often, results don’t show up for a few weeks, so give yourself plenty of time to settle into your new program and then make minor adjustments later.
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