2020

10 Tips for Staying Motivated to Exercise at the Gym

10 Tips for Staying Motivated to Exercise at the Gym
A gym member regular may have been proud of their progressive bodybuilding and ripped muscles or simply staying fit and healthy. Then the coronavirus pandemic happened, and the number of infected people surged.

Most governments and other public health leaders ordered gyms and fitness centers closed, along with restaurants, movie theatres, and bars. State and local officials consistently branded gyms as high-risk venues for infection, akin to bars and nightclubs.



In a gym, heavy breathing may spread infectious droplets further, and without proper ventilation, this puts you at higher risk of catching or transmitting the disease. It wasn't easy switching to a home workout routine for most people. In the last months of the lockdown, most people either came out ripped or in dire need of a diet.

Now, the fitness industry has begun to push back at pandemic-driven perceptions and prohibitions. Gyms have begun to gradually re-open with restrictions all over the country.

However, most people have lost the inspiration for working out in the events of the pandemic. Even as the gyms are re-opening, many find it hard to go back to a workout routine.

Here, I give you tips on how to keep up the motivation to go to the gym and keep working on your goals.

10 Tips for Staying Highly Motivated and Inspired to Exercise at the Gym


1. Training Support


It's much easier to keep yourself motivated for the gym if you train with someone.



Be it a friend, colleague, or family, having a training buddy enables you to support each other by coaching and challenging one another. Friendly competition has some major boosting power; the performance depends on whoever is quitting first.

It's also a lot of fun!

Also, you're less likely to hit snooze or head home if you know you're leaving your workout partner solo. Which can also get you excited about your fitness journey again.

2. Keep Track of Your Progress


Progress keeps you motivated to the goal you want to achieve. There are many free apps to help with tracking your calories lost, steps walked, exercise records, and even your heart rate ! However, don't expect to see immediate results when you start working out. Be realistic.


3. Interchange Training Schedules


Follow a training schedule, this can give you the motivation to keep up with your workout and reach your goals. If your routine is starting to get monotonous, changing the time of your workout will make things newer and more enjoyable.

Depending on the time you do it, working out has a different effect on your mood. Morning workouts energize you for the day, while evening workouts help your body relax for the night.

4. Switch Up the Exercises




Similarly, it would help if you also tried different workout routines rather than running on the treadmill every time. Switching between weight-lifting and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or a dance class will help you explore more interests that you would find more favor doing. So, while every routine should work different sets of muscles, the routines themselves should also change.

5. Avoid Setting Hard Rules for Staying Motivated to Exercise


Almost everyone tries to motivate themselves by setting hard, and fast rules like; working out at certain times, or working out only on particular days. When you do this it makes it easy to talk yourself out of it. If you start setting yourself up with small things at a time, for example, taking a walk , you are more likely to become motivated and spare more time for more
workouts.

6. Reward Yourself




Agree with yourself that if you reach a specific goal, for example, going to a gym twice a week for three months, you will get a reward like a massage. If you don't keep your promise, you won't get your reward! Persistence pays off.

7. Listen to Music


Time flies when listening to your favorite music you’re working out. Music can be a melodic path to getting into a fitness groove.

8. Set Realistic Goals


When exercise is all about the way you look, and you fall short of your expectations a few times, you end up just giving up. Do not set unobtainable physical goals like getting a six-park in too short a time. When you don't hit those goals, it feels like a failure in itself, and that's not motivating. It is recommended to start small with this journey and build. Set goals that are attainable like losing a certain percentage of your body fat, and gradually up the ante, challenging yourself a bit more every week.

9. Be Consistent




Consistency is key. Once you get into a regular routine with your workouts, you'll stick to it. They say it takes at least three weeks to make or break a habit. Turning it into a habit helps keep you motivated to go to the gym in the first place. The key to fitness consistency is to make those three weeks your challenge.

10. Social Motivation


Social Media can be too overwhelming, but using it to hold yourself accountable will help you stay on track and support one another. Healthy social competition with your friends can help you get some fitness motivation.

Also, telling your friends and family about your fitness accomplishments will help you feel unique and proud. If you announce you'll be participating in an upcoming race, you'll be less likely to slack off training knowing everyone will be waiting to cheer you on, whether it is tracking your progress online or in reality.

Try and make it a social activity with your friends or partner by participating in engaging training sessions together. The social element is the best morale booster.


Conclusion


It is encouraged by health experts that human beings need to have at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week (that's about 20 minutes a day) to keep fit. Cautious people are coming out of their homes to venture out and experience working out with social distancing.

However, many people are still falling short of this. To keep yourself motivated, make your workout routine a habit by following the tips listed above. Making small, incremental changes to your routine can add up to big results.




 
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