I'm too sleepy, too tired, too stressed, and it's too hot. I deserve rest, I can start tomorrow, my body needs sleep now more than anything...' Do you field this rigmarole of thoughts yourself when it is time to get up and exercise? If so, rest assured you are not alone.
Fighting these mental blocks and lazy noises is the first step to take towards attaining a perfect fit body. Here are five tips to motivate yourself and do your exercise for the day. Remember, a little exercise is any day better than no exercise!
1) One step at a time
You know yourself better than anyone else. If you feel there is a chance of you switching off the morning alarm to catch some more sleep, start smart and small. Keep the morning alarm at least 15 minutes before your usual time. Once it goes off in the morning, let it ring till it gets the better of your sleepiness.
The next challenge is to get up and sit on your bed. Let yourself do it, slowly. Once that is done, lead your head in the same fashion to step down from the bed, wash your face, brush, get dressed, and get ready. Take enough time to go through the motions, and be patient with yourself. Make sure you are nice to yourself till you reach your gym.
2) Start small
You don't always have to start running or lift weights, as soon as you hit the gym. Plug in your headphones/ear pods, listen to music, and start walking on the treadmill. Let your body take it slow and once you feel comfortable, raise the speed. You can even increase the elevation and try speed walking on it, which is a good cardiovascular exercise.
3) Get a workout buddy
Training partners who can motivate each other can be an amazing way to get the most out of your workout. You can choose someone who has similar fitness goals to you or someone who has trouble getting up in the morning and pushing themselves to get to the gym. Try some friendly competitions too, which might motivate you to give your best.
4) Do 5 moves watching TV
For real lazy days, you can keep a workout plan of five moves ready. They can be just 5-floor exercises or standing exercises - 20 reps of 3 sets, which you can do while watching your favourite show on TV. If you complete the first set and are motivated, go for the second set. Who knows, maybe if the show is interesting, you might go for a third or fourth set too. And that's what they call 'two for the price of one!'
5) Reward system
Give yourselves a reward for the work done. 'If I work out for an hour today, I will get myself new workout clothes this month,' or 'I will treat myself to a glass of juice at the new restaurant.' Self-rewards, which might give you a sense of fun accomplishment, can go a long way in pushing you to get your workout done. Be creative and come up with interesting rewards so that you won't feel like skipping the workout sessions. You can also try this system with your workout buddy, and you both can reward each other. What say?