Are you struggling to stay motivated with your exercise routine? It’s that time of the year when you arrive home from work in the dark and cold, then when you wake up in the morning it’s still dark and cold!
It’s not difficult to see why so many of us struggle to stay motivated during the winter. It’s so easy to snuggle up on the sofa in front of the television in the warm or hit that snooze button on the alarm clock whilst cocooned in your duvet, especially when there’s a chill in the air. We know though that staying motivated comes down to one thing; your mindset.
Winter is actually the perfect time of the year to focus on your training and nutrition routine to ensure you stay on track and as healthy as possible. Training should be consistent whatever the time of year and you are more likely to maintain results if you make a continuous effort.
Need some help with that mindset and motivation? Here are our 7 top tips on how to stay committed through the winter months:
Set a goal
Give yourself a realistic and attainable goal. Decide what it is you want to achieve and, if it helps, find an image and put it somewhere prominent so you can focus on it daily. Break it down into smaller goals to help you stay motivated as you achieve each individual milestone. A realistic target will do wonders for your motivation and drive you on to get the results you want – you’ll actually want to grab that Gym bag and head out for your exercise as you’ll be reaping the benefits.
Reward yourself
Create a reward system for yourself so that it gives you something to be excited about. When you achieve certain goals buy yourself a new item of clothing (perhaps from our Speedo range) or give yourself a treat like a massage or manicure. Our treatment room therapists are always on hand and you can book yourself a sports massage, reiki or even a facial. This will spur you on as you know you can reward yourself if you reach those targets, especially if they are something you’d really like!
Get a Gym buddy
Grab yourself a friend and get down to the Gym or into that Swimming pool! On the other hand grab your racket and hit up the squash, Badminton or Tennis courts. We say having a workout buddy is a fool proof way to stay on track as you’ll be accountable to each other. If you are aiming towards similar goals this will also help, otherwise ensure you know what each of you want to achieve so you can check how you’re both doing. With the Gallery Cafe at Bluecoats you can kill two birds with one stone; have a work out and then catch up with your friend over a coffee or protein shake to maintain your energy levels.
Make a date with the gym
If there is a favourite gym/group class you can do before or after work during the week, book on and put it in your diary. It is super easy to book Classes and activities with our online booking system. Make it a primary part of your plans for the week and if it’s in the diary it means you will work around it when planning the rest of your week and it won’t be brushed to the side or crossed out in favour of a night in!
Buy new workout gear
Go on, admit it, when you buy new items of clothing you get excited to wear them out don’t you? Why not do the same for the gym? Snazzy new Gym wear might just be the motivation that you need as you’ll look and feel the part. Plus after spending money on new workout gear you’ll want to get to the Gym and show off your new purchases!
Mix it up with a new workout
If you’ve been doing the same workout for some time it can get boring and you also won’t get as much benefit from it as you did at the start. So why not mix it up a little and try a new workout you’ve never done before? Here at Bluecoats we have a huge range of classes you can get involved in. Whether you are looking for aerobic based Classes or something more steered towards core stability, there are so many different Classes you can get excited about exercising again. TRX anyone?
Get a personal trainer
A personal trainer may be exactly what you need to help you stay motivated and achieve your goals. If you arrange a Personal Training appointment you will have a set, paid for commitment which won’t be so easy to duck out of. Our trainers help you establish your own personalised goals as well as develop a realistic and achievable plan to reach these goals. If you think this is what you need to stay motivated speak to any of our fitness instructors in the gym, they are always happy to help and advise you.
The important thing is to not lose sight of what you want to achieve and stick at it. You will never regret a workout but you will always regret the workout you skipped!
