movitation to work out after an off-day

imfittted

I have a problem where I can get really motivated to work out for 5-6 days in a row, but as soon as I take a day off it's so difficult for me to get back into it. Usually, I end up taking 2-3 days off and then feel like I have to do it every day for 5-6 days again to make up for it (basically working out the same number of minutes per week but cramming them into fewer days.) I don't know if I am wearing myself out by making the workouts longer and working out more days in a row, or if I just like the off day so much that I skip another. I usually end up feeling crappy the days I don't work out but I can't seem to use that as enough motivation all the time. I know motivation is fleeting but what are your thoughts? How do you keep yourself motivated after a day off?

-Brittany

ChrisLindsay9

Perhaps you can find ways to set short-term goals for yourself, so that you feel hungry to want to obtain them? If you're weight training, it could be hitting a certain weight in your bench press or deadlift. If you're focused more on endurance/cardio exercises, it could be trying to reach a certain time or distance goal. These kinds of self-created challenges could help you be more motivated to get back to it after a needed day off.

Other ideas....

-- Remind yourself how awesome that feeling is right after a workout. It's better than the feeling you get after leaving work for the day (or better yet, for the week!).
-- After a day of rest, make your first day back to the gym one in which you give yourself a treat (in the past, I would buy a smoothie after a weight training session, as an example)
-- On your off days, maybe think of ways to changing your program up a bit, so that you're more excited about getting back to it (I'll sometimes look up new exercises to try and incorporate into my program).

Hope this of some help! Maybe some other people will have ideas?

imfittted

I actually do have shorter term goals which aren't exactly working for this purpose, though they do help me get the minutes in. I really like the idea of giving myself a treat after the first day back after a rest day. As well as switching up the activity. Thanks for the insight! I'm going to try that next week after my off day.