How to Stay Motivated at The Gym
You walk into the gym, throw on your gym shoes, and you are off to the races. Starting with a brisk walk on the treadmill, every second feels like an eternity. After a short ten-minute walk you decide to do some stretching, but as time passes you contemplate making a swift move back to the change room, leaving unnoticed. How do you avoid the unenviable? How do you stay motivated without spending a fortune on a personal trainer there to push you through the hard times? Look no further. Here are some quick tips on how to stay motivated at the gym.
1. Find a gym buddy.
Go to the gym with a close friend or co-worker who you believe will motivate and push you to your limits. As human beings it has been shown that when you have someone by your side to hold you accountable for your hard work you will not want to let him or her down. The gym buddy of your choosing will be there to motivate and support you into giving it your all even when you may be feeling a bit sluggish.
2. Record your progress.
It can often be the case that sometimes you aren’t quite working as hard as you can to lift heavier or increase the number of reps. To avoid this, bring a little notebook or your phone to the gym to record each exercise (reps, sets, weight) after completion. Seeing your progress written down on paper will not only motivate you to become the best version of yourself, but it will allow you to do a comparative analysis of where you came from in your fitness journey and where you want to go in the future.
3. Think about short-term goals.
If you get into the habit of leaving the gym before your workout is completed, you will become more comfortable with always pushing your workout off by saying something like “oh I will work harder tomorrow”. In order to avoid this, think about your short-term fitness goals and how each and every workout is essential to that goal. Yes, maybe you can miss a day a month if you really need it, but no more excuses! In essence, thinking of your short-terms goals will motivate you throughout your workout.
4. Do it for yourself.
The only way to truly stay motivated at the gym is to do it for yourself. You cannot go to the gym for others or to simply look good in a bikini. It has to be because you want to become the best version of yourself both physically and mentally. Sure, the added benefits of having a banging body may be the end result, but your initial motivation should be purely self-centered.
