Some mornings, especially since it's the summer, I hardly find it within me to forgive myself when my alarm obnoxiously screeches at 6 a.m., signaling that, unfortunately, I need to abandon the comfortable embrace of my bed and hustle my booty to the gym. I will not lie to you. There are some days, when I truly have to argue with myself about the benefits of working out so early in the morning -- such as how I will not want to run in 90 degree heat after work at 4:30 p.m. and risk suffering from an asthma attack, or that my endorphins will help me power through what may come to be a slow, gloomy morning, or that I will treat myself to an aesthetically pleasing and equally nutritious smoothie bowl post-workout. Although they seem like little, asinine consequences, those reasons I just listed not only get me up in the morning, but they help to add a positive spin to my workouts, which can become both mundane and trying.
Summer is the perfect season to jump into a new workout routine (or even just beginning to work out, in general), but the motivation to do so is sometimes even harder to muster. That's why I've done the hard part, and come up with five ways to motivate you to get moving.
Have a kick ass playlist.
Going to the gym and discovering that I've forgotten my headphones or that my phone died is essentially another level of Hell. For me, having a playlist comprised of kick ass music makes me feel like I am kicking ass during my workout (and believe me, you are kicking ass and making it stronger). Whether it's the beat of the drums, emotion of the lyrics, or a subliminal bass drop, music can make you feel absolutely empowered. Here's what's on my playlist right now:
"Don't Let Me Down," The Chainsmokers
"POWER," Kanye West
"Partition," Beyoncé
"Scream," Usher
"How To Be A Hearbreaker," Marina and the Diamonds
"NRG," Duck Sauce
Work out with a friend.
I get it; working out can be tough to do by yourself. Am I doing this right? What if everyone is looking at me? Ah, maybe I will just do two sets instead of three because... excuses, excuses, excuses.
Whatever the reason, working out with a friend gives you something else to focus on instead of actually working out. It also provides a great bonding experience for the two, or three, or four, (or more) of you. Don't want to work out with a friend? A personal trainer is a great option to seek if you want someone who's not emotionally involved in your life, or if you want someone to tell you what to do while you're at the gym / show you the ropes so you don't have to do it all by yourself.
Set daily and weekly goals.
When I was in health class in high school, we had to make goal sheets for ourselves and, I'll be honest, I thought it was the dumbest idea ever. But, honestly, I've found since arriving at college two years ago, that setting goals helps you adopt and adhere to the lifestyle you want.
There are different types of goals that you can set: long-term and short-term. When setting goals, work from the bottom upwards. For example: I want to run for at least 20 minutes every single day, five days per week (weekends off), so that by the end of the month, I can run two miles without stopping. Start with the short term, and expand to the long term goal you desire, but make sure that it is not only specific, but that your goals are realistically attainable for you because it will motivate you that much more, I promise.
Treat yourself.
Some days, I feel like I'm dragging myself down the street rather than actually running, so I find myself stopping more to catch my breath, or I psychologically fatigue myself. Having something to look forward to after your workout can easily be a positive influence to the type of workout that you have. I usually look forward to what I will eat in order to recharge and refresh my body. (In particular, I usually find myself coveting the aesthetically pleasing smoothie bowl). But, hey, don't limit yourself to just food! Sometimes, I treat myself with an hour of yoga on my off day if I trained hard all week. Say you set a goal to workout every single day during the week, and on Friday night, you reward yourself with ice cream. Or you set a goal to run five miles each day during the week, and you'll use your brand new paycheck to order that pair of leggings you've been eyeing. Rewards are an easy way to motivate and fuel your workouts.
And whatever you do, never give up.
