10 Tips On Staying Motivated During The Darker Months
It comes around at the same time every year, but nonetheless always seems to spring upon us so quickly, the transition from summer to autumn
. The trees change colour and drop their leaves, the air is cooler and the nights are drawing in meaning shorter days. Some people love this time of year, some dont I fall in the latter category of those that dont, a summer person through and through. That said Autumn and Winter on a crisp cold day with sunny blue skies can be fantastic, but these can be few and far between so how do we stay motivated to keep on working out through these darker times.
1. Set yourself a goal. This is my top piece of advice. If you are a runner, book yourself into a race in the spring, something to train towards. Be it your first half marathon or marathon, it will keep you focused and motivated to train through the winter. If you are a gym bunny, why not enter a fitness competition or a strongman/strong girl contest. Goals do not have to be mammoth, set bite size ones like, I will train 3 x a week for 30 minutes or keep a pair of skinny jeans or a dress in your wardrobe that you want to fit into.
2. Book a Holiday or Trip. Similar to setting yourself a goal but if you book yourself a late spring break or a summer holiday then you are going to want to get into shape ready. The winter is a great time to hit the gym and work on that bikini body ready to be revealed in the summer!
3. Buddy Up. Make a pact with a friend or partner to workout together. If you can afford to, hire a Personal Trainer. Having somebody to be accountable to, does make you think twice about shying away or cancelling. You can motivate one another. Instead of meeting for that coffee and catch up with a friend, why not meet at the
Home Gym equipment instead and catch up that way.
4. Make more of your lunch break. Some people have the luxury of having gyms on site great if you do use it! If you dont then instead of working through lunch or sitting in the canteen, use the time wisely. Take your trainers to work with you. Go for a walk or jog for half an hour. Perhaps even do a bodyweight no gym workout, these can be very effective to. There is nothing quite like the feeling you get after exercising, if you could bottle it you could sell it and
Gym Equipment make millions, and the natural daylight and vitamin D fix you can get from being outdoors too.
5. Dont make the mistake of going straight home from work. You finish work and the last thing you feel like doing is going to the gym, BUT if you go before you get home and get yourself all cosy, put the kettle on and put your feet up, you will feel much better for it. Sometimes going home first you can lose the willpower to get out the door again. So instead make it part of your day, like an appointment mark it in your calendar. Say to yourself, I am going to spend 45 minutes in the gym X amount of times per week after work. Once you get into the habit, it will become second nature to you.
TV Workout 6. Invest in some Home Gym Equipment. If you really cannot bear the thought of leaving the warmth of your home, then why not invest in your very own piece of
Fitness Equipment?
Home Gyms are becoming more popular. You do not need lots of space, you can get many compact, folding pieces of equipment, whether your preference is the treadmill, rower, exercise bike or crosstrainer, you can place it in front of your TV and exercise while watching your favorite soap! Kill two birds with one stone.
7. Get lost in Music. For me losing myself in music, particularly when running, can be a real release. Make yourself a playlist of all your favorite, feel good, upbeat tunes, turn them on and go. You will be surprised how your favorite tunes can motivate and keep you focused.
8. Track your progress. Keep a workout diary so you can look back and see how much you have improved. There are many online and smart phone apps program to help log and track your fitness. GPS apps for running and cycling, apps for tracking sets in the gym, even apps to track your calorie intake. Find one that works for you. I find that on uploading my data after a run or a session in the gym it always fascinates me seeing what I did in graph form and seeing how my pace has improved or my strength gains over a period of time, it keeps me pushing on.
9. Know that you are getting fit, strong and sexy! Know that by exercising you are helping yourself on a journey to fitness, improved energy levels and strength, less stress and better health. Exercise can help fight off many diseases, reduce risks of falls and injuries as well as make you look and feel great. Who wouldnt want that?
10. Reward your efforts. It doesnt have to be all work and no play. If you put the hard work in then you should not feel guilty about indulging now and then! A glass or two of wine, some chocolate, maybe even book yourself into a relaxing spa day, something to think about and look forward to while you are training!
Do you have any tips on keeping motivated through the winter? Share them with us.
by: Ms.Michelle Caines
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