How to find motivation while training

Having clear goals and being supported by a professional are some tips that can keep you motivated while you exercise.

Some people believe that the results arising from exercising come in the short term. But there are those days in which you need some extra help when it comes to leaving that comfy spot at the couch. And once you start seeing the gym as a synonym for torture, things become harder and harder.

Don’t worry, though. You’re not alone, we’ve all been there. But the good thing is that is something we can fix quite easily. If you want to find some extra motivation for your exercising sessions, keep reading this. We have selected a few tips that might help you with that.

Have clear goals

Having clear goals is very important in order to avoid frustration. Decide where you want to get to, establishing reachable targets, as for example losing weight, gaining muscles or paying more attention to your health. If you don’t have that well established, it’s likely that you’ll soon lose track of things.

Focus on the results

See each achievement as a motivational factor, and gain strength from there to keep moving forward. Keep note of your victories, from the pounds you left behind to the weight you’re lifting. Challenge yourself, and every time a goal is reached, set another one. Don’t stop until you get there. Once you realize you’re getting closer to your objectives, you’re feel motivated, and that will keep you going.

Find your references

It’s pretty common for most of us to follow other people as examples. They serve as a reference pointing to the direction we’d like to go. Find someone to play that part for you, to help you reach your goals, and to inspired you. We’re not talking about a personal helper, but more of a figure that you admire. Always remember that the person you pick also has difficulties and challenges, and he/she is only there now because they didn’t give up.

Vary your training schedule

A repetitive task becomes tedious after a while, but there is a way to change that situation. If you think your training schedule is boring, talk to your coach and adapt it. Try new classes or exercises, find new training partners, go to the gym at a different time… Anything to ensure you won’t feel like finding an excuse for not checking that box from the list.

Have your time under control

Anything in excess is bad for you, and exercising is no different. If you start dedicating 100% of your free time for your training sessions, you’ll probably be too tired or bored after a few weeks. Respect your body, have rest periods and remember that this is not supposed to be an obligation, it’s supposed to make you feel better, not worse. Don’t turn it into something heavy to carry around.

Give yourself a reward

Not always easy, but definitely important. You need to have lots of self-control and resilience in order to rewards yourself sometimes. But basically, it consists in establishing goals and rewards. Say you’d like to eat something fancy. Establish a goal and set that desire as a reward for when you reach that exercising-related goal.

Study

This is one of those rules that are valid for basically every aspect of you life. If you want to improve your physical performance, study. Learn new things about what you practice, talk to experienced pros, observe people who have been doing it for longer than you have. These people will be of great help, and can give you valuable advices.

Find a training partner

Having a friend to exercise with is a good thing when it comes to keeping the motivation up and running. You’ll feel much more comfortable when you have someone to talk to about your plans, as well as exchange ideas during the practice.

Create a playlist

Music has a lot to do with the way you feel. In case the music they play at the gym isn’t exactly your cup of tea, create your own playlist, and bring your headphones along. Find your rhythm, see how you feel while exercising. Update your playlist from time to time so you won’t get bored with it.  

Look for professional help

If nothing worked so far, it may be a good idea for you to find a personal trainer. These professionals are prepared to help you in every way they can, adapting exercises and schedules according to your goals.

Oh, and maybe it’s about time you considered trying something else. If what you’ve been doing is boring, the best thing is to explore other options.