At the beginning of the year, you may have decided upon some fitness resolutions. Perhaps you even joined a gym or bought new workout clothes. But after the first month or two, we often find ourselves procrastinating… or outright quitting! If you find it difficult to stay motivated, try these four methods to renew your commitment to fitness.
Start with small daily goals. Sometimes it can be hard to stay on track when our big goals seem out of reach. Start each day by setting a small fitness goal, such as “I’m going to run for one more minute today” or “I’m going to add one lap to my swim”. Breaking down large goals into smaller, more manageable ones can lend you a feeling of accomplishment when you reach them.
Make a commitment to one larger goal. Of course, all of those smaller goals should build toward something very rewarding! Sign up for a charity marathon or other fitness-related challenge, and the social pressure should motivate you to keep working toward that goal.
Track your progress. It’s easy to become discouraged and quit when you feel you aren’t making progress. The truth is, as long as you keep working out, you will make progress. But it might be more slow and gradual than you would prefer. Sometimes, all it takes is seeing concrete proof of how far you’ve come. So try out a smart phone app that tracks your workout times or mileage, and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when you see the results of your hard work!
Reward yourself. Download some motivating new tunes, buy a new outfit, or reward yourself in any way that works for you. Try to focus on things that keep your workouts feeling fresh, rather than rewards in the form of food or other unhealthy choices.
