In college, going to the gym can be intimidating, stressful, and time-consuming. Sometimes motivation to go can be difficult to find, but every time, it is SO worth it. Here are 8 tips that I've learned during my first semester of college that make exercising in college so much more attainable!!!
1. Don't associate it with negativity.
Going to the gym is never going to be enjoyable if you associate it with stress and negativity. Think of it as a way to empower yourself, get stronger, and have some time to yourself. If you view it as an enjoyable, peaceful, or powerful part of your day, rather than a chore, you'll want to go.
2. Don't tell yourself that you have to be there for HOURS in order for it to be a 'good' workout.
Especially when I'm tired or not really feeling it, I'll tell myself, "I'm only going to run for 20 - 30 minutes" and it always helps because I think about how that is SUCH a small portion of my day. I usually end up going longer than I planned because I'm enjoying it! Don't think of it as this long, boring, painful task. You can get in a really effective workout in a short amount of time. As busy college kids we don't have a lot of time to spare... so make the most of it!
3. Do things that you enjoy.
If you hate running, don't force yourself to run! You'll never want to go and you'll never enjoy going if you're doing something that doesn't interest you. There's definitely something for everyone, so try different things out and find what you love doing/what makes YOU feel best!
4. Switch it up!!!
Going to the gym goes by really quickly if you switch up what you're doing. Do 10 minutes on the elliptical, 10 minutes on the treadmill, etc. and the time will fly by.
Also, you don't have to do the same thing every day! Running is my favorite, but sometimes I get tired of it or my body doesn't want to run (lol). It's really beneficial to change up your routine and try new things!
5. Think about how much better you'll feel when you're done.
If I feel unmotivated or am not enjoying my workout, I ALWAYS remind myself how AMAZING I'm going to feel. Runner's high is SO real. When I'm done, my mind is so much clearer and I feel SO much more confident. That's definitely the thing that keeps me the most motivated.
7. Don't worry about anyone else.
Gym-timidaition is a very real thing! It can be nerve-wracking, especially if you're just getting into exercising at the gym. I definitely get intimidated sometimes. It's really important to remember that other people at the gym DO NOT care what you are doing and will not be judgmental. Just do you think and try to be as confident as you can!
8. Work towards a goal.
Without a goal, it is super easy to lose motivation to go workout. If you're not working towards anything, you can give up at any time. My goal is to run another half marathon, which is more of a long term goal, but they can be really simple/weekly goals too! It definitely helps me to have a goal to focus on, that I'm determined to meet!
