7 Tips for Staying Motivated

There are some days where I'd rather be in bed, relaxing, or doing pretty much anything but work out. When that happens, I have to rack my brain for any kind of motivation in order to get myself moving. Here are some of the things that I use when my motivation starts to wane and I'm thinking about just having a lazy day.

1. Set small goals. You may have a larger fitness goal that you are working toward. Whether it be weight loss or  a certain amount of physical strength, but these are your long-term goals and can seem so out of reach at times that they are unattainable. Setting smaller goals that lead up to your long-term ones will help you keep on the right track and give you a reason to celebrate your success on a more regular basis. If your goal is to lose fifty pounds, make a smaller goal to lose one-two pounds a week, this make the fifty seem less daunting.
2. Just fifteen minutes. When I really don't feel like getting up and exercising I will always tell myself that I should at least do fifteen minutes. More often than not, after those fifteen minutes are up I'll usually just complete my entire routine. After you actually get moving and energize your muscles you will probably feel better and want to keep going. And if you don't that day, at the very least you got fifteen minutes in!
3. Use music. If I'm feeling down and unmotivated, I'll often take a quick ten minutes or so before my workout and throw together a new playlist to listen to while I exercise. Having new songs, or even just a recombination of old ones can be refreshing and make you look forward to your workout a little more.
4. Focus on the good things. So many times when we feel unmotivated we focus on the negatives of what we are doing, or what we could have done better. This only serves to deter are motivation further. Instead focus on all the positive things you have done in your life related to your healthy routine. Focusing on the good that you do will help you feel better about getting up and moving.
5. Come up with a reason why exercise could be bad for you. If you can do this, you can take the day off. And injuries do not count, you can always work around an injury. Work upper body instead of lower and vice versa.
6. Share your plans. Telling someone that you're going to be exercising the next morning and then not going would make me feel pretty bad. Hold yourself accountable, and allow others to do the same by sharing your goals and plans with those who are around you often.
7. Relax. Even though I have all the things I do to keep myself going, there are occasions where I truly need to take a step back and allow myself to relax for the day. And that is okay, you should not be afraid to take some time off and allow yourself to get some much needed rest. Giving yourself a rest day can actually help keep you motivated because it will keep you from feeling worn down.

Do you have any tricks you use to keep yourself motivated? If so share them in the comments!