We’ve all been there. It’s early in the morning, and you’ve promised yourself a morning workout. Last night you were ready to go to the gym, but this morning you’re laying in bed making up excuses as to why you can’t go. I get it. I do it too. Over the years, I’ve come up with a few strategies to ensure that I don’t cheat myself out of my workout. Use these tips, and you’ll never skip a workout again.
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Pick Your Workout Ahead of Time
It’s easier to quit on something when you don’t have a concrete plan. I’ve found that picking out my workout the night before gives me more determination to complete my workout the next day.
Also, when you pick your workout the night before, you won’t pick an easy workout because you’re lazy. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gotten to the gym or the track and been so mad at the workout I’d picked the night before. If I’d waited until I’d gotten to the gym to decide. I’m sure I’d have gotten lazy.
Make It Fun
This is perhaps the most important item on this list. You have to find a workout that you enjoy. If you choose workouts that you enjoy, working out won’t be a chore.
The difficult part is figuring out which types of workouts you like. I suggest trying a ton of different types of workouts until you find one, or several, that you enjoy. If you’re having trouble coming up with anything out of the ordinary take a list at this list of fun exercises, you might see something you haven’t thought of yet.
Your workout should be fun. You won’t stick with something you don’t enjoy.
Lay Everything You’ll Need For Your Workout Out the Night Before
Of course, this is perhaps the most practical actionable tip so far. Always lay your workout clothes out the night before. In the morning, your brain is really good at coming up with excuses.
Laying your clothes out will make the excuse that much more difficult. In fact, I always lay my complete workout outfit down to my socks and shoes in my bathroom. This way, I don’t even have to go back into the bedroom after I’m up for the day. (That bed and my sleeping husband can be too tempting sometimes.)
Buy Some Cute Workout Clothes
Now that we’re on the topic of clothes. Buy some fabulous workout clothes that make you feel great!
It’s hard to be motivated when you look like a shlub. So, don’t settle for any workout clothes, make sure to get something cute.
Even better, find something you really love and only allow yourself to wear it when you workout. I bought myself the cutest pair of sneakers that I have ever seen in my life, but I only allow myself to wear them on when I go on a run. So far, it has motivated me to go on several runs!
Find Someone to Hold You Accountable
One of the most powerful ways to hold yourself accountable is to find someone to do it for you. Get a workout partner or a trainer that expects you to be there at a certain time. We are far less likely to let a friend down than ourselves.
So, you’ll end up workout to keep your friend or trainer happy, when you wanted to work out to make yourself happy in the first place.
Plan Your Workouts Around the Weather
Aaah, the weather…The killer of many a morning workout. I have flaked on my workout about a million times because it’s just too darn cold. Cold is my Kryptonite. I just hate it.
I have planned around that. I have an elliptical in my house. So, on cold mornings, I don’t even have to go outside to get my workout in. Excuse killed. You can also plan around the weather by the workouts you choose. On days when rain is forecasted don’t choose an outdoor bike ride. Choose an indoor cycling class instead. This should be easy since your already going to plan your workouts the night before!
Change Your Mindset about Exercise
This is key to loving to work out. If you go into your workouts thinking that they are something you have to do, you will always dread them. Using the tips above, you should be able to find a workout that you like, or at least you don’t hate to do.
The world of fitness is not the 8th-grade gym class you remember. There are so many more options out there than just running and situps. There so many apps you can use, gyms with live classes, home gyms, outdoor adventurous workouts and even more.
Think of exercise as something that you GET to do for YOU. Most days, I’m sure you’re doing things for other people all day. Make your workout the hour you get to do for YOU, and you’ll be sure to succeed.
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I hope you can use these great tips so that you never skip a workout again! Let me know what your strategies to stay disciplined are. Just shoot us a shout out in the comments.
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