It's not always easy to find the motivation to go to the gym after a long day at work and you are probably familiar with this classic story - you're planning to go to the gym when one of your friends offers you a more tempting alternative. You put off your workout until tomorrow and then the next day, something else comes up or gets in the way and so on, in a never-ending cycle.
There are ways around this though, here are 5 trends to turn your sports resolutions into good habits and avoid losing even a crumb of motivation.
1. Define the "why" of your workouts
Without a goal to reach, whether it's to run 20km or simply to tone up or lose weight, it's sometimes difficult to stay motivated. It is therefore essential to define "why" you train. What is your ultimate goal and, more importantly, why is it so important to you to achieve this goal? What impact will it have on you and your life?
2. Pre-commit & plan ahead
Willpower is a good start, but it is not unshakeable. It can evaporate when you're tired or stressed, and it can diminish over time. This is where "pre-commitment" comes in! This is a concept that involves taking action ahead of time, organising your daily activities and your surroundings so that temptation does not deter you from your goals.
First, you need to set a schedule. What days will you work out? What exactly will you do? How will you get to the gym? Studies show that you are more likely to achieve a goal if you have a clear plan. You can also buy another set of toiletries and always have a gym bag ready with shampoo, deodorant and clean underwear. The number of obstacles that can prevent you from doing something you've committed to should be as few as possible, so having a bag ready is a good way to push yourself to go to the gym.
3. Track your progress
Now that your goal is set, the next step is to find a way to track your progress toward your goal easily and regularly.
Ask an expert, such as a personal trainer or fitness instructor, to determine how to best evaluate your progress, and what metrics to focus on for your goal. And don't be afraid to use the convenient (wearable) technology available in so many formats. If you are an Aspria member, opt for a more comprehensive approach, by starting with a signature AspriaPro Health consultation.
4. Train with others
If you commit to working out with a friend and then don’t show up, you'll be letting them down as well as yourself. Feeling accountable to another person can boost your motivation.
You can also opt for group classes as with every session you will feel empowered to exercise more often, more consistently – and as you become part of the wider group, the workout will become a pleasant routine. This is true regardless of your age, gender or fitness level.
The interaction with the group and the trainer creates a natural bond – a community spirit. You meet the same people at the same classes, so much so that you end up participating in a class both for the friends you make and for the workouts themselves.
5. Find the activity that feels right for you
There are dozens of ways to be active. But in order to stay motivated, you need to discover what training style you actually enjoy, so that workouts become a pleasure rather than a chore.
And as you progress, remember to vary the exercises, enhance the intensity of your workouts and try new sporting activities on regular basis - to avoid losing interest or motivation.
This is where Aspria can help, providing you with fitness options, functional training, tennis, swimming and a wide variety of group classes. There's something for everyone.
New Aspria members can also explore different training styles in our Discovery sessions, to uncover their favourite activity and learn the suitable techniques according to their fitness levels.
