FUEL YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE WITH THESE MOTIVATION HACKS

Almost all of us want to lead an active lifestyle, but finding the motivation to stick to your exercise routine is often easier said than done. And when it comes to fitness, consistency is the most important factor in successfully building a better body.  

These exercise hacks are specifically designed to help you keep up your fitness and stay active. While you don’t have to do all of them, committing to a few simple solutions can help you stay motivated and continue your journey to a happier, healthier you.  

Find your reason for wanting to get fit 

If you’re just exercising because people tell you it’s the right thing to do, you may not feel excited about fitness. However, reframing your thinking can have a big impact on your dedication to the cause. Do you want to live longer? Do you want to enjoy more active hobbies? Your motivation may be as simple as wanting to pick up your kids or grandchildren, or to be able to play with your dog without running out of breath.  

Once you have defined your ‘why’, the ‘how’ will be a lot easier to push through.  

Make backup exercise plans 

Sometimes life gets in the way of your exercise routine. Whether you’re a runner who gets rained out of your usual run or a shift worker with an unpredictable schedule, there will be days on which your planned exercise just isn’t possible.  

But remember, consistency is key. Find a few backup exercises to do if your usual routine gets interrupted. These could be as simple as walking to work instead of driving, or doing some bodyweight exercises at home.  

Commit to exercising for a shorter amount of time, but more often 

You don’t need to get all your exercise in at one time, so if an hour at the gym is off the table, commit to exercising for 10-20 minutes, three times a day. You could walk in the morning, do some squats and crunches in your lunchbreak and finish the day with some weights in the evening – or whatever works for you. As long as you’re exercising, you can’t go wrong!  

Combine exercise & entertainment 

If you don’t have the time to exercise and watch your favourite TV show, do both! Set up a treadmill or exercise bike in front of the TV, or load up some episodes on your phone to watch at the gym. Podcasts and audiobooks are another great way to distract yourself while you work out, giving your brain something else to focus on aside from the burn in your muscles. 

For even more motivation, limit yourself to watching or listening to a specific show you love only when you’re exercising. You’ll want to get your blood pumping just so you can catch up on the latest episodes!  

Join an online challenge 

There are tons of online challenges for various exercises, so if you’re focusing on a specific exercise – such as planks, squats, distance on a treadmill or rowing machine, etc. – you can easily find some online goals to work towards. You could even challenge a friend or family member – the friendly competitive element will help you push yourself that much harder!  

Put your phone away 

If you’re the type of person to get easily distracted by your phone, put it away when you’re exercising. This is especially valid for workaholics and those who can’t live without social media. Stopping to check every message and notification is sure to take the steam out of your fitness routine.  

Make the world your gym 

Exercise doesn’t only happen when you’re in your workout gear and using a fitness machine. Choose to take the stairs instead of the lift, walk to work if you can and park far away from your office if you can’t, and try to choose the active option whenever the opportunity arises. 

Change it up 

Doing the same thing every day or week can get repetitive and boring. If you’re running out of motivation, try something else to keep the fire alive. For the best of both worlds, plan a monthly exercise routine with various different types of cardio and resistance training, so each week presents a fresh new challenge.  

Set small, achievable goals 

Constantly achieving your goals will spur you on throughout your fitness journey. Set small goals that you know you can achieve and slowly increase the challenge level. If you can only do five push-ups, commit to being able to do 10. Once you can do 10, try and hit 15, and so on. 

Focus on what’s possible 

Sometimes, the idea of doing any kind of exercise after a long day at work can feel impossible. Instead of completely abandoning your planned one-hour workout, tell yourself that you’re just going to do some warm-ups. By the time you’re in your workout gear and moving, you may just want to carry on and complete your full hour.  

We hope these tips help you stay motivated and active, so you can embark on a rewarding journey in health and fitness! If you think a home gym will help you stick to your routine, get in touch with us today and let us help you find the right equipment for your needs, goals and budget.