Starting your fitness journey is one thing. Keeping yourself motivated is another. In this day and age where everything and everyone is almost always fast-paced, it’s so easy to get caught in the loop of life. Meaning, we tend to fall far from our goals and ambitions in life when we get drained or overwhelmed. One being our fitness journey. It’s a constant battle of whether or not you want to do it still or just completely abandon the ship. Fortunately, in this article, we will explore a plethora of tips to help keep you focused and stay on top of your fitness game. We’ll lay down practical tips to motivate you to look forward, never back.
Set Realistic And Achievable Goals
Before diving right into anything, make sure you have your 5 Ws. Who are you doing this for? What is your goal? Why are you doing this? When do you plan to start? Where do you want to achieve this? Though that may seem like a handful, it’s your blueprint to staying focused on your goal. Start with small, achievable goals in a day, then gradually transition into a week, then a month. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, break down larger, more vague goals into smaller chunks to help you achieve small, baby steps.
Create A Fitness Schedule
Get it out of the way by already planning your workouts in advance. Schedule them throughout your whole week, and treat them as highly important appointments that you cannot miss.
Find An Accountability Partner
Sometimes, it’s good that we have people to keep us in check. Just like with any other thing, finding an accountability partner is a must if you want to stay on track of your fitness goals.
Ask a friend, a family member, or a mentor to do weekly check-ins. Join an online community where you can share your progress and learn from others. There are many ways you can count on an accountability partner to remind you of your “why.”
Reward Yourself
…with non-food related rewards! Don’t be so hard on yourself; celebrate milestones and small wins! Did you hit your PR this week? Definitely give yourself a pamper day. Ran a 5k for the first time? Treat yourself to a game of blackjack before going to bed. Went to the gym without having second thoughts? Go get yourself a new lifting belt. There are countless other ways that you can reward yourself for the tiny little things you achieve, so celebrate yourself and don’t take life too seriously.
Mix Up Your Workouts
I know, going through the same routines every single day can be a bore. This also tends to leave you feeling demotivated, abandoning your fitness journey over time. So to avoid this, make sure you’re switching things up every now and then.
Try different activities like hiking, dancing, swimming, or doing yoga or pilates. There is absolutely no limit to what you can try when it comes to your fitness journey.
Listen To Your Body
I know we all want to hit a certain goal, but it’s always better to listen to your body. Know when to stop and rest for a while. Your body can only take so much, and you’re probably doing a lot of other stuff aside from working out. So on your rest days, truly rest and allow your body and muscles to recover. Don’t push yourself too hard or this can only lead to injuries.
Wrapping Up
Consistently staying motivated on a fitness journey can be a real challenge. Life throws curveballs, and it’s easy to let your fitness goals fall by the wayside. However, by implementing these strategies – setting realistic goals, creating a schedule, finding an accountability partner, rewarding yourself (non-food related!), mixing up your workouts, and listening to your body – you can cultivate a sustainable fitness routine and achieve your goals. Remember, fitness is a marathon, not a sprint! Celebrate small wins and acknowledge when you need to take a quick rest.