Five Ways to Get Into the Mindset of Exercising Regularly

Try these tricks for those times when you don’t feel like working out.

You’ve joined a gym, started training and set goals for yourself, but there’s a problem — you can’t seem to get enthused about working out. Everybody has days when it’s harder to get in the gym, but if you consistently dread your training days, there are a few things you can do to get in a fitness mindset.

1. Don’t skip workouts

This is the hardest piece of advice to follow in this list — the problem is getting into the mindset to work out, after all. But here’s the thing, there’s no way to get in the mindset to work out without actually working out. The good news is that going to the gym will only get easier as you develop fitness habits.

Schedule two to four workouts per week and don’t skip them. There are going to be days when you really don’t want to work out, but unless you’re sick that day, make yourself do it. You can shorten your workout or do something easy, but at least get yourself to the gym. The secret to living an active life is making fitness a habit. From there on out, it’s much easier to stick to a routine.

If you’re struggling, remind yourself that every time you go to the gym, you’re one step closer to making it a habit and each workout will make the next one easier.

2. Find an activity you enjoy

If you hate running, but drag yourself onto the treadmill every time you go to the gym, of course you’re not going to have a good time. The key to getting in the right mindset is to find an activity you enjoy. See what your gym offers and keep an open mind — you may love an activity that you never expected you would, so consider trying everything at least once.

Some options include running, using the elliptical, cycling, weight lifting, studio classes and more. Once you have a favorite activity, going to the gym will likely feel much easier.

3. Set goals and track your progress in a visible manner

One reason you might struggle to get in the mindset to work out is if you feel like you’re not making any progress. Nobody likes putting in work with no reward, but you may be making more progress than you think. The best way to combat this problem is to set specific goals and track your performance over time.

For example, every run on the treadmill may feel the same, but if you track your workouts, you might notice that your pace increased or you’re able to run longer than before. There are plenty of apps that can help you log your workouts, or you can use a good, old-fashioned notebook. And believe me, progress feels good and will keep you coming back for more!

4. Seek inspiration

A photo is worth a thousand words, and has the power to boost your motivation by one-thousand percent, too. If you need an extra push to get to the gym, surround yourself with images that inspire you to be active. This might be pictures of your favorite athlete, other people’s progress photos, or pictures of a dream destination, like Mount Everest.

Whether you create a Pinterest board, follow your favorite athletes on Instagram, or cut out photos from fitness magazines, you can easily add a dose of visual motivation to your day. This vision board will guide the way of your lifestyle change.

5. Remind yourself why you’re living an active life

You joined the gym for a reason — remind yourself of it every time you work out. Think about how great you’ll feel when you reach your goals. You’re putting in time and effort now in a way that will pay off later, and it will all be worth it.

Even though working out may seem like a chore, if you adopt a grateful attitude and appreciate your body’s ability to move, you may find that every sweat session becomes more enjoyable. Get moving!

Photo Credit: ThinkStock, Catalin205