When you’re just starting out your fitness journey, you will initially be extremely motivated about working out, but once it becomes a habit, things can change. Often, the more people work out, the harder it is for them to get motivated to keep doing so.

Are you one of those people? Imagine, you’ve decided to rest for yesterday so now you have to go to the gym early in the morning on a Monday, but the bed just feels so comfortable. You might spend some time deciding whether to go or not until you realize that your motivation a few days ago are suddenly nowhere to be found.

So, why does working out seem great until we actually have to do it? Sometimes, finding motivation is even tougher than the workout itself. So how do you exactly find motivation for your workouts? Read on to know more.

What Is Motivation?

Motivation, as defined, is something that gives us purpose and direction to keep on doing something. By that, we’re searching for something to drive us to work out, something to get us to keep moving. So where can we find that ‘something’? For athletes, working out may come from the desire to win the competition while for others, it may be due to having a healthier lifestyle. For most people, losing weight so they can look better is often the goal. But are those desires enough to motivate us?

Well, it is. Finding motivation is not something we find by accident, but it is actually something we can create. Think about the times you get excited about exercise. Maybe it’s time to focus your attention on what’s important. Planning to finally work out is important, but it’s what you do to follow through that really matters.

Motivation comes from different places. Consider the following elements to create your own motivation for your fitness journey:

Goals

The first step to motivate yourself is to have something to work for. You’re not limited to one goal; you can set as many goals as you like. Set daily goals (I’ll go for a 30-minute jog today), weekly goals (I’ll do 3 times of cardio this week), or even hourly goals (I’ll get up every hour to walk around). Always make something to work for, big or small, is just one way to keep yourself going.

Prepare

Once you’re ready for your workout, make it as easy as possible to follow through. That means getting what you need and having it prepared for your workouts — including your gym attire or your energy meals or snacks.

Discipline

Once exercise becomes a habit, it becomes easier to do. Finding motivation to maintain it helps if you do it regularly on a particular dedicated time, so when that time comes, you know it’s time to get your body busy. Talk with your personal trainer to meet at a specific time for your workout session.

Flexibility

Most of us skip our workouts when we find a change in our daily routine— if you’re tired that day or you must work late. Always have a backup plan. If you are working late, see if you can fit in a quick walk at lunch. If you’re too tired to go to the gym, at least try to do some house chores to get yourself moving. Everything counts!

Commitment

Working out isn’t a decision you make once— it’s something that you choose to do every day. Always remind yourself of your fitness goals and take time to appreciate how far you’ve accomplished. You can also write down your goals and stick them on the wall, so you can always remind yourself of your goals.

Fun

One thing that destroys our motivation is the thinking that exercise is a duty and not something fun. Feel free to make time for free-flowing exercise that can help you lighten up a little. Take a stroll, walk your dog to the park in Manchester, or even playing with kids could help your heart pumping.

Reward Yourself

Motivation happens almost instantly whenever we reward ourselves. It might be something small, like a movie date, or something big, like a massage day out.

Keep creating your motivation based on the goal and reward that gets you moving. You can have results or excuses— but not both. Create your motivation by eliminating your excuses before they actually happen. Lastly, it’s important to realize that motivation comes consistency. To keep on being motivated, you must also keep on moving. You can find a personal trainer in Bramhall or anywhere in the UK to help you keep motivated.