Too Tired to go to the Gym

jainafaith
jainafaith Posts: 45 Member
edited November 29 in Motivation and Support
I work early in the morning and once I get home around 5:30pm I'm too exhausted to workout after work. I prefer working out in the mornings but I leave my house by 7am to go to work and if I try to workout before work it would be too early for me. How do I find the energy and time to try to workout at night? I just lack so much motivation to go to the gym at the evenings. If I just workout on my days off in the mornings (Saturday & Sunday) would that be too little of exerise?

Replies

  • carmkizzle
    carmkizzle Posts: 211 Member
    edited January 2016
    Most people make time for the things they really want. So, if you really want to work out more than twice a week, you'll make the time. Your work schedule is probably similar to most of us on here, but we find the time. I work 9am-6pm. My workout goal is 3 days/week, minimum. Some weeks, I do 4. Sometimes I work out in the morning before work, a lot of the time I'm bringing my workout clothes to work so I can change afterwards and go to the gym. Sometimes I'm tired, sometimes I just feel lazy, but I push through. You just have to, you'll feel so proud of yourself for doing so. Surely you're motivated enough for at least one more day of working out? That being said, two days is better than nothing. Maybe try to squeeze a third day in and see how it feels? Good luck!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    You just have to do it. Don't go home first-go right to the gym after work. My train drops me off two blocks from my house and 3 blocks from the gym...I still bring my gym bag to work and don't walk the two blocks back home first.
  • melizabird919
    melizabird919 Posts: 29 Member
    I have similar issues - I work retail hours that change constantly. Working out at home is what works best for me. There's tons of YouTube workouts that don't require equipment and other routines and ideas online. If you like the gym go on the weekends/when you can. Figure out what works best with your schedule. :smile:
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    edited January 2016
    Just don't buy into the social delusion that we have to stay up watching advertising till 10:30 pm or later.

    Go to bed earlier and exercise before work, or exercise at night instead of watching TV.
  • Hoooooooooo
    Hoooooooooo Posts: 27 Member
    I get up early and train before work. I HATE getting up, *kitten* and complain to myself every day... But I do it because I feel amazing afterwards and I respect myself and my body. Honestly it does become routine and if I can get up at 04:40 every day, cycle 8km to train and then cycle home I'm guessing you can find a bit of time too. ( I mean this in a supportive way) ☺️
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    Go to the gym on your way back from work, or go to a class in the evening.

    I'm tired, I have 3 young children (the youngest is 20 months and has never slept all night) and I work as a teacher, so not only am I at work all day but I have to come home and do more work, but I still find the time to work out.

    My husband does shift work and when he's on late shift I have to collect my kids by 6 from nursery/after school club, and sometimes I rush from work to the gym to collect the kids, then I have to do dinner, baths etc and get the kids to bed, then sit down and mark a set of books. When he's on early shift I tend to do evening circuits classes. Twice a week we have meetings until around 5, so I'll rush home, get changed, then do a class at 6:30/7.

    I think all the exercise actually gives me more energy. I reckon I'd feel a lot worse if I didn't exercise.
  • oh_happy_day
    oh_happy_day Posts: 1,137 Member
    Your schedule seems pretty standard. You either need to commit to getting up earlier and working out then, or go straight after work. I do a combination of both. Do I have to drag myself out of bed some mornings? Yes. Do I often feel too tired and lacking in motivation by the afternoon? Yes. But I go anyway. I keep my gym bag in the car and I go straight from work. I food prep on the weekends, so I can spend less time in the kitchen in the evening. I don't really watch TV and I go to bed early. I find exercise gives me energy.

    Motivation won't get things done. Habit and consistency does.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Buy a few items to set up a home gym.
    Or do Sat and Sun and do one more day during the middle of the week for now for a total of three days a week.
  • Justin7883
    Justin7883 Posts: 289 Member
    Me too! I'm on my feet all day long doing manual labor!
  • samthepanda
    samthepanda Posts: 569 Member
    Agree you just need to make it a habit. Decide which nights you are going, have your kit ready and tea planned, and just do it on that day, same as you go to work. I work and have a 2 kids, one with autism and one who's 3. 2 week nights there are activities with son where one of us has to stay with him, and one of us is with daughter. So Tuesdays is Hubby's gym night, and wed is mine. I am dressed and ready to go as soon as hubby gets in so I have 90 mins at the gym max before I have to be back home to put youngest to bed. Some nights I don't want to go, it I still do. I find if I have a gym class to go to that can help motivate me to get there for certain time, rather than keep putting it off. I have a couple of fitness DVDs for use at home on weeks when it really doesn't work out - mainly due to childcare.
  • bspringer544
    bspringer544 Posts: 155 Member
    I wake up between 4 and 5am to get my morning run in... So... Either you do it or you don't.
  • DebBahr
    DebBahr Posts: 110 Member
    Bottom line is there is nothing easy about it. I finally got tired of being unhealthy and overweight and decided to do something about it. For the last 4.5 months I've been going to the gym 5 days a week. I look at my calendar for the week and figure out the best times to go to the gym. I really hate getting up early but on days when I go to the gym before work I have to get up at 5:15. I have to force myself to do it. My choice is get my butt out of bed or go back to being fat.
  • lindasgr
    lindasgr Posts: 1 Member
    Try a new routinechoose the days you want to go-mark them on a calendar or your phone-give yourself a gold star on the days you go!! Think of this as you would a doctor's appt. Keep this calendar handy-stay consistent for at least 30 days. The other thing is always go to the gym on your way home...never stop at home 1st, unless you absolutely have to. Don't beat yourself up...this is a lifestyle change-it is not easy.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    It helps if you're on a program as well. I have a 4 day program. I know which days are the hardest for me to go after work as I do a lot of subway traveling with my guitar. I work my week around those tough days in order to make them rests days. I have 7 days to get in 4 very important workouts. It's not that hard.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Actually, it is a little hard. But I take a pre-workout lol
  • geoblewis
    geoblewis Posts: 44 Member
    I get the tiredness being something that prevents you from exercising after work. Maybe, instead of cardiovascular and weight training, you do something that helps you sleep better at night, like Pilates or Yoga. And I would concentrate more on getting enough sleep. Go to bed a little earlier at night. And make sure you're getting enough water during the day. Sometimes fatigue is dehydration.
  • sheermomentum
    sheermomentum Posts: 827 Member
    Can you exercise at home? It might be easier if you don't have to spend the extra time driving to gym. Less mental effort, too, maybe.
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