While we all know that working out and eating clean helps us remain healthy, active and productive and impacts our physical and mental well being, motivation to maintain it can often be hard to find. Many of us find ourselves being motivated for a short time and completely giving up thereafter. So today I'm going to be highlighting how you can make these short bursts of inspiration into a long term solution.
Fix a time for working out- While several researches show that mornings are the best time to workout, that may or not work for you. So don’t force yourself to get in some exercise when it's not comfortable for you. Working out doesn’t need to be treated like a task but rather a self care activity you are indulging in just for yourself, therefore finding a time that suits your mind is the way to go. It’s always helpful to fix a timing you want to designate to this activity throughout the week to have consistency and avoid procrastination.
Find what works for you- An integral part in the journey of fitness is to find something that’s fun for you. For some people this may be yoga, zumba or running while for others it may be gyming, dancing or playing a sport. You can also find a variety of ways to workout wether that is with a trainer, or finding workouts on Pinterest and YouTube or simply doing your own thing. Some people also find it beneficial to workout with a friend / family member to help motivate each other and hold one another accountable for showing up. Either ways, everyone has a different preference and you should find your own niche.
Make a schedule- If you are into home workouts, it’s a great idea to form a schedule for your week. For instance, if you want to get in exercise for four days a week, you can assign a different focus area (such as full body, abs etc.) or a different type of workout (yoga, running and so on) for each day. This also helps you make sure you are working your entire body.
Take off days and don’t overstretch- Making a realistic goal for the minimum number of days you want to workout every week helps, as long as you hold yourself accountable for it. That being said, it is extremely important that you take at least one if not more rest days in a week. It is vital for your body to get some recreational time after stretching out in the week. Not taking off days often results in burn outs and injuries.
Don’t guilt trip yourself- What’s the point of working out if you feel guilty with every bite of that chocolate you eat? Know that its alright to indulge once in a while as long as you exercise and burn it, it maintains balance. The important thing to monitor should be portions. Therefore, while eating that ice cream, eat but don’t overeat. That being said, its so important that you aren’t hard on yourself and let yourself be in the moment and enjoy.
Use social media to your advantage- While social media often portrays body types and meal plans that are unrealistic to match, it can also be a source of inspiration. Platforms like Pinterest are great to get motivation and encouragement to workout. The biggest aspect is to not compare yourself to others bodies on such platforms and work on yourself just for your own happiness.
Remember your main motive to start- Your motive to begin working out should never be to achieve a certain body type but instead to be fit to help you be internally healthy and fit. It’s easy to get caught up in the inch and weighing scale game but your constant effort should be to steer yourself as far away from that as you can.
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