You've decided to work out today. You've made it all the way to the gym, where you're faced with rows and rows of equipment and dozens of people who look really fit. You start running (or spinning or rowing or lifting), but you're losing steam and really not enjoying yourself. It's easy to lose motivation for exercising, but don't give up! There are plenty of ways to turn exercise from a chore to something you can actually look forward to.
Get your groove on
Music is the best way to keep yourself pumped up while working out. While this seems pretty obvious—I'm sure a lot of people can't imagine exercise without music—it's really important to choose the right kind of music for your workout to maximize its motivational potential.
Really upbeat music, like fast EDM and dance music, can be great for bursts of energy, but try not to put them too early in your workout playlist—you don't want to burn yourself out! For something that'll keep you going for a longer time, look for genres with steady beats at a slightly more manageable pace. Rap or upbeat acoustic music can be good choices, and bonus points if the songs have complex lyrics that take your mind off the exertion of your workout and get you in the zone.
If you're going for a distance run or plan to spend a long time on the elliptical or bike, try choosing an album and listening to it all the way through. That way, you've set an automatic goal: make it to the end of the very last song. You're less likely to give up halfway through, especially if it's a good album. For extra motivation, use your workout time to explore new artists; listen to that new album from the band your friend was telling you about and kill two birds with one stone!
Keep track
It can be really motivating to keep track of your workouts to see how you keep improving. If you're a runner, the Nike+ running app is a great way to see how your pace and distance compare to your previous runs as well as the habits of other people in your age group. Plus, it gives you fun badges as you beat your personal records and reach certain distance milestones.
Keeping track of other kinds of workouts can be a fun way to compete with yourself. If you lift, it's satisfying to watch yourself improve. Challenge yourself to increase your reps (within reason, of course) and weight and enjoy the results!
Many people have also jumped on the FitBit craze. These trendy gadgets are great for keeping track of your daily movement habits and can help you push yourself to find new ways to move more, maybe by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, maybe by running that extra mile.
Rethink why you're working out
Sometimes, we start thinking of exercise as a punishment. We think things like "Oh, I ate so much today, I have to work it off." With that train of thought, exercise becomes a negative thing, something to endure instead of enjoy. Though it can be motivating to think of how great exercise will make us look, those thoughts can quickly turn unhealthy.
It can be really hard to escape that kind of thinking, but it's the best way to stop seeing exercise as a chore. Instead, think about the other positive effects of exercise. Enjoy the rush of endorphins your body will feel after some good cardio. Use a long run to zone out and escape the stress of your daily life. You'll start to learn that exercise can be a great way to give your body and mind a boost, keep your mood up, and make yourself feel good!
Now get out there and get moving!
