A few of the tips I've gained since starting my fitness journey that have helped me stay motivated and consistent.
It is easy to hit a plateau when keeping an exercise routine. We fall into the same habits every day and sometimes it gets boring. We often rely solely on motivation to keep us going but in reality it is consistently that keeps us going. If we relied on motivation, half the time we would never do it.
Here are favorite tips to staying consistent with exercise:
Don't think just do- There aren't many instances in life where this can be applied. But fitness is one of them. When I really don't feel like working out that's when I just get changed and start driving. Once I'm at the gym, I think to myself "Well I'm already here, might as well do something." You have to just do it. Make it a non-negotiable in your day and it will happen.
Challenge your mind and body- If you aren’t challenging yourself you aren’t going to see progress and typically when we don't see progress we get discouraged. We give up because we think what were doing isn't working. Challenging yourself will leave you satisfied after every workout and allow you to see faster results.
Do something every day- Some days it's just not going to happen and that's okay. But that doesn't mean that you can't do your best to be consistent. Even if you can't get in your usual workout, try and get in a walk, some stretching, or even mobility exercises! Eventually, your body begins to crave movement and working out feels less like a check box on your “to-do” list and more of a habit. Before you know it you'll start to look forward to it!
Get outside- I love working out in the gym but I also love to be outside. Some of my favorite outside activities will be going on a hike or doing stair sprints at my local park. It changes up the atmosphere to keep things interesting. It is easy to get bored with the same routine and some days you just can't get to the gym or aren't up for a strenuous workout.
Take progress pictures- This one I wish I did more often because there are days where I lose motivation because I feel my body hasn't changed since I started. Taking progress pictures helps because you can look back and be reminded of how far you've come. Every little thing we do makes changes in our bodies and it is important to be able to visibly see the progress.
Rest- If you are someone who goes hard all the time or maybe is just starting out remember to rest. We forget that we need to recover and giving our bodies recovery time is just as important as putting in the time to train.
These tips are ones I have utilized on my fitness journey for over 6 years! If you already implement any of these tips or have any tips to add to the list, please comment. I would love to hear what you do to help you stay consistent.
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