How to Find Motivation to Workout Again
Life gets busy, and getting back to working out after a break can feel discouraging and often gets pushed down the to-do list.
First of all, know that it’s okay to take a break, whether it’s due to giving birth, busy schedule, an injury or something else.
Instead of beating yourself up for getting off track, here’s your guide on how to find your motivation to make working out part of your routine again.
1. Start Small. Be Realistic and Consistent!
After taking a break, jumping back into a high-intensity workout routine right away may not be the best idea and safest since it could be overwhelming and lead to burnout or injury.
Instead, start small and commit to something you can do on a regular basis since especially at the beginning your consistency will matter more than your intensity. Set achievable goals like walking daily for 15-20 minutes, then adding a couple short workouts a week that will improve your full body strength and endurance.
Once you create a plan, add it on your calendar and treat it as an important meeting with yourself that you can’t cancel. Showing up for yourself will gradually increase your confidence and build a momentum of good habits.
2. Find Movement That You Enjoy!
If the idea of walking or running on a treadmill bores you, try strength training, Pilates, hiking, cycling, or even dancing. When you’re engaged in something you genuinely enjoy, working out feels less like a chore and more like a fun experience that you are looking forward to every time. Try out different activities until you find the ones that you enjoy the most and you can do them regularly.
3. Celebrate Your Wins!
We often become so focused on the main goal, that we neglect the small progress we make daily. Take time to acknowledge your progress no matter how small it seems to you. For example, celebrate the fact that you went for a walk 3 times this week, that most of your food choices were healthy, that you were able to increase weight, or do more repetitions in your workouts.
Nobody’s journey is 100% linear so don’t be hard on yourself if you have an off day. The most important thing is to keep showing up.
4. Find Accountability!
Whether it’s a friend, family member, partner or online community, having someone to share your journey with can help you stay committed and also make it more enjoyable. Knowing that someone else is counting on you can be a great motivator especially on days when you need little more motivation to keep working on your goals.
5. Variety in Exercise!
Incorporating different types of exercise in your routine can help in keeping things interesting and benefit your body. For example, combining strength training, pilates, cardio and mobility. By mixing different activities you will prevent boredom or burnout, and you will work on different muscle groups which will improve your overall fitness.
6. Focus on Positive Benefits!
Remember all the positive effects that exercise has on your body and mind. Working out can improve your mood, increase your energy level, keep you strong, make your daily activities easier and more enjoyable, and enhance your overall well-being. If you keep these benefits in mind, you are more likely to push yourself to move more even on days when you don’t feel like showing up.
It happens to all of us to get off track sometimes, so if it has been a while since you exercised–don’t feel overwhelmed! With the right mindset, support and plan you can get back on track with working out and make it again part of your lifestyle.