Tips to motivate yourself when you’re really not wanting to workout

takemetosingapore19
takemetosingapore19 Posts: 86 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hi! So I’m new here. I’ve been at this 1.5 months so far... I haven’t had any issues getting myself to the gym or to eat healthy so far. This week I got my period and on top of that I have a lot of financial stress in my life that is almost debilitating. I worry over my bills and school constantly. The combination of these factors is making it very hard to get myself to get off the couch and go to my gym or go for a walk/hike/bike ride etc. I’m feeling really low and I know this isn’t the norm and it won’t last. I’ll be good once this week is over. Just gotta get through it.

Any advice for someone struggling to make the first move out the door? I know it’s easy to say just do it- which is what I have done so far. However, this week it seems like I need to find a different approach. What do you do on days you really don’t want to workout but have to?

In the past I have bribed myself with the gym’s whirlpool hot tub , sauna, or a bubble bath following my workout. Right now nothing sounds appealing. I told myself I won’t eat dinner until I workout. That’s about all I’ve got.

Also, I’m a student so my schedule is VERY open right now. I am only 19.

Replies

  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Remember that exercise can help you cope with stress!

    Mostly, though, I find physical activity that I like. Dancing, biking, playing in the pool...
  • takemetosingapore19
    takemetosingapore19 Posts: 86 Member
    I guess I’m asking what things do you reward yourself with for a workout? How do you motivate yourself ? Thanks <3
  • laurenbastug
    laurenbastug Posts: 307 Member
    Motivation ebbs and flows and it's totally normal to have an off week.

    I can relate that stress (along with being on your period) can feel debilitating.

    For me, once I put my workout clothes on, it helps turn on a mental switch. Doesn't automatically mean the motivation follows but I tell myself that I've never pushed myself to get to a workout and then regretted it. Sometimes, it's the workouts I wanna skip that I kick *kitten* at. But everyone's different - it could just be you need a few days to rest/recover though. It's important to listen to your body!
  • takemetosingapore19
    takemetosingapore19 Posts: 86 Member
    laurenbastug wrote: »
    Motivation ebbs and flows and it's totally normal to have an off week.

    I can relate that stress (along with being on your period) can feel debilitating.

    For me, once I put my workout clothes on, it helps turn on a mental switch. Doesn't automatically mean the motivation follows but I tell myself that I've never pushed myself to get to a workout and then regretted it. Sometimes, it's the workouts I wanna skip that I kick *kitten* at. But everyone's different - it could just be you need a few days to rest/recover though. It's important to listen to your body!

    Thanks I love this.

  • AgentFlex
    AgentFlex Posts: 211 Member
    I don't think I have ever rewarded myself for doing a workout, but I know that a lot of my friends on here look to me as a person who is consistent with workouts and I don't like to disappoint people so I try to get them done :)
  • Faebert
    Faebert Posts: 1,588 Member
    It’s not a reward as such, but I generally try to visualise how I will feel after I’ve done the workout. And how I will feel if I don’t. And I tell myself that in an hour and a half I could be feeling epic and proud of myself, or I could still be feeling fed up and frustrated. Usually works!
  • steveko89
    steveko89 Posts: 2,223 Member
    Motivation can definitely be fickle and shouldn't be relied on 100%. Cultivate positive habits and structured discipline into your routine, making the right choice also be the path of least resistance. Putting on or laying out workout clothes ahead of time is always a good idea to nudge you to get to the gym. I stopped carrying change and small bills to curb my vending machine habit once upon a time. Another trick is scheduling your workouts in your calendar like you would any other appointment to avoid encroaching on your gym time.

    Quote I think about every now and then which helps:
    "Wow, I really regret that workout." - no one, ever
  • urloved33
    urloved33 Posts: 3,323 Member
    "Wow, I really regret that workout." - no one, ever
  • Go_Deskercise
    Go_Deskercise Posts: 1,630 Member
    edited March 2018
    My motivation comes from my 2 dogs ...

    Somehow my dogs know the difference between workout clothes and work clothes.
    They get very excited when they know they are going somewhere and I would have some hyper dogs giving me a guilt trip if I didn't follow through.

    Any time I don't feel like going out for a walk/run, I just start putting on workout clothes ... their excitement is contagious and I get my butt moving!

    *obviously, don't just go buy a dog or anything LOL, but you could find some other kind of motivator that works with your life :)
  • williamsons1
    williamsons1 Posts: 4 Member
    I set a timer and tell myself I will commit to only 10 minutes of working out. At the end of 10 minutes, I will stop if I want to. I may have stopped once, just to prove to myself I would. However, this always works because getting started is my problem. Once I get started I am good to go.
  • curiousgp
    curiousgp Posts: 122 Member
    Tell yourself....just 15 minutes. If you still aren't feeling it - hang it up for the day and do the same the next day.
  • Lift_Run_Eat
    Lift_Run_Eat Posts: 986 Member
    Morning lifting: I think about having to make up the workout. I like to lift in the morning, so if I sleep in, that means I am making it up in the evening when the gym is really crowded. Or if I push off for another day, I think about how it throws my whole week off. I do not like missing and having to make up my workouts another day, as this could make double lifting sessions to fit in with my trainer. This is usually motivation enough to get my butt to the gym in the morning.

    Lunch Cardio/Yoga: I don't need much motivation at lunch. I look forward to getting out of my office for an hour.

    My evening cardio: my kids push me to go to the gym. This is their time there. Since I have to drive them, I might as well put in the hour doing core work or cardio, or I hit up the spin class nextdoor to the church when they go to youth group.

    My reward is being able to look in the mirror and liking the results that I am seeing. I may not see them day to day or even week to week, but looking back at pics from month to month, I can see the changes.
  • kschildroth
    kschildroth Posts: 570 Member
    I tell myself that it's only an hour and I have never regret completing a workout. It's about 4% of the day or 6% of the day if you subtract 8 hours for sleeping.
  • takemetosingapore19
    takemetosingapore19 Posts: 86 Member
    Thanks to almost all of you! Your kind words and suggestions have helped me get there! Like I said I haven’t had this problem in MONTHS if ever. I had this issue ONCE and it was hard, but now I know how to handle it. Very glad I went :):)
  • takemetosingapore19
    takemetosingapore19 Posts: 86 Member
    Also, I obviously get that the workout itself is the reward but when you’re struggling to get up it’s nice to think of other stuff in addition to that to get yourself going. That is the hardest part!
  • girlwithcurls2
    girlwithcurls2 Posts: 2,281 Member
    kenyonhaff wrote: »
    * Promise yourself you will work out for 10 minutes. Very often, it's just getting started that is the hardest hurdle. Once you're going, more often than not you will do more.
    * NOT working out isn't going to solve your financial and/or school issues. Might as well do something to focus on something else for a while. Might as well feel stronger. And taking care of yourself will avoid medical bills.
    * Be sure to actually SCHEDULE your workout. With a super-flexible schedule the downfall is that it's always easy to put it off to another time.

    ^ So much THIS.
    For me, making it a habit was huge. I told myself, "It's just what I do" so that on days when I didn't want to, it's just where my car took me. Seriously, there have been days when I leave work, and end up at the gym. I kind of laugh because my new auto-pilot drive home doesn't go home anymore. It goes to my pool. Getting dressed and there is huge. I'm all for the 10 minute rule. I can count on one hand how many times I have bailed on a workout once I'm dressed and there.

    Hang in there. Things will get better, and you'll be so GLAD that you stuck with your plan through the tough times.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I've been at this for over five years. I'm pretty consistent for the most part, but there are days when I just say *kitten* it. It happens. I learned a long time ago that I wasn't going to be 100% on all of the time...I've had bad days...bad weeks, and even bad months over the years...it happens, but as long as I'm doing what I need to do most of the time, it's fine.

    I was supposed to go to the gym this past Sunday to lift...I woke up to a nice gentle rain and overcast sky with the clouds hanging low over the mountains which is a rarity here so I decided to bail on the weight room and get a fire going and drink coffee and read. It was very pleasant and well worth it to just take a day.
  • JosieMay100
    JosieMay100 Posts: 43 Member
    If I ever cant find motivation to go to the gym. I make myself clean. Like really clean the house! Either that will put me off and I'll end up at the gym. Or it means I end up sweating by cleaning and have a really clean house :)
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Put on your workout clothes when you get up, and get out the door before your brain knows what's happening, LOL!
  • ruffalicious
    ruffalicious Posts: 779 Member
    I usually scroll Instagram for transformations
  • KeepRunningFatboy
    KeepRunningFatboy Posts: 3,055 Member
    In video games you have power-ups. In life, create your own power-ups. A favorite song, some positive self talk, move that bring energy such as applauding yourself, or raising both arms in victory. Determination comes from the higher functioning brain region known as the pre frontal cortex. You can use this power source to overcome lower functioning reactions that might crave a garbage diet, procrastination, fight or flight, habitual reactions, etc.
  • thelegendofsakura89
    thelegendofsakura89 Posts: 105 Member
    I get that feeling, cause I struggle with anxiety and often feel overwhelmed and not wanting to do anything...even though I know the workout usually helps me feel a bit better.
    So I ask myself, what would skipping my workout accomplish? Cause I know if I skip it not only will I still be stressed, I'll feel guilty for not sticking to my routine on top of it.

    Like an above poster said, I never regret a workout, but I always regret not working out.
  • DebLaBounty
    DebLaBounty Posts: 1,169 Member
    I ditched the whole "I need motivation" mindset and replaced it with "I'm learning how to be more disciplined". My reward was getting to eat back 50%-75% of the exercise calories I earned that day. So I'd log a piece of pie or a serving of chocolate or ice cream before my workout. A lot of people here will advise no food rewards but it worked for me and I reached my weight loss goal. I'm totally against deprivation! Anyway, I would write (in ink) on my calendar the work out times just like I'd calendar a business meeting or a class. You learn to keep those appointments for yourself. That's discipline. And like others here have advised, I'd put on my workout clothes and my brand new running shoes and get in my car and get to my athletic club or the trail where I'd go running. It completely reduced my stress to get that exercise done. I found that mid-workout I was actually enjoying what I was doing. It got me over the hump.

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