Taking the first step towards something important is always a significant milestone. It comes with energy, excitement, and endless possibilities, which are all great things!
What becomes more difficult at times, though, is the moments after you have started, and maybe some of the original feelings have faded away. These are the moments that will make or break whatever you are trying to accomplish. It is when you find that second wind, or when you decide to give up.
So the better prepared you are for these moments of decision, the more likely you will be to push through and continue on with your journey. That is what this article is all about.
These 7 ways to stay motivated with your fitness goals will keep you moving forward and onward. They will be there to continue to challenge you and to help you pursue your best.
Inspirational Books and Videos
What you put into yourself is what comes out. So if you want to feel like you can accomplish anything, read about people that have already done so. There are so many success stories out there (fitness and others) where people have overcome seemingly impossible challenges. Reading and watching videos about people that have already conquered their giants will only help to motivate you. You will be able to draw motivation and energy from their stories. And who knows, maybe someday someone will be reading about your inspirational story and will do the same.
Follow Positive Social Media Accounts
Social media is here to stay (for better or worse), so you might as well make it work for you. In the same way that you want to watch and read positive material, your social media feeds should be the same. So take the time to find some social media influencers that speak to you, and that will help stay motivated to be your best every day. The more you can surround yourself with positive and encouraging messages, the more you will want to be your best self.
Make a Plan
It is hard to stick to something if you are unsure of what you should be doing. This means that you need to sit down and figure out a fitness plan for you. If you are a beginner, get online and do some research on one of the many great fitness websites out there. Before long, you will have a good understanding of where to start and what you should be doing each week. And as you go, you will continue to learn and adapt as needed. It all starts with first taking the time to chart the right course, though.
Set Goals and Write Them Down
This is similar to making a plan, but slightly different as well. Along with creating a plan, you also want to set short term and long term goals for yourself. By doing this, you will have something to look forward to accomplishing, which will inspire you to keep working.
When you set your goals, make sure that they are customized to you, and that they are challenging, but also realistic. Secondly, make sure that you write them down somewhere. It could be on a physical piece of paper, a whiteboard, or even on your phone. Just make sure that it is somewhere that you will see it regularly. This will help remind you to stay locked in and on task.
Find a Fitness Partner
This is not always the easiest thing to do, but it can be a huge gamechanger. If you can find a fitness partner to join you on your journey, it will make a world of difference. You will be able to have someone to challenge you, encourage you, and hold you accountable. Also, on the flip side, you will be able to do the same, and you will also want to work harder so that you don’t let them down.
If you cannot find a fitness partner because of scheduling or another reason, try and find an accountability partner instead. Ask a close friend or family member to hold you accountable, and then permit them to call you out if you aren’t doing what you should be. Setting up a regularly scheduled check-in time is also encouraged. This will make sure that you have regular accountability.
Give Yourself a Break
You may not be able to make it to the gym every day, or you may miss a couple of days in a row because something pops up, that is okay. You should do your best to get right back on it as soon as you can, but don’t beat yourself up. Do your best to stay positive, and remember that progress is progress.
Also, what will really help with this is being able to be flexible with your workouts. For example, if you are unable to get to the gym, but have 30 minutes at night, do some bodyweight exercises, yoga, or something along those lines. It might not be exactly what you wanted to accomplish for the day, but it is still a step in the right direction.
Enjoy the Process
Anything worth doing takes time, and it is rarely ever going to be done the first time perfectly. It is a process that takes time, so enjoy that process and enjoy the challenges that come with it. The more you can learn to do this, the more you will want to continue on. And not only will you want to continue on, but when you accomplish your goals, you will want to set even bigger ones the next time.
7 Ways to Stay Motivated With Your Fitness Goals Conclusion
Staying motivated with anything in life is all about how you prepare and organize your daily routine. It is the same way when it comes to fitness. If you do an excellent job with these seven ways to stay motivated and use them regularly, the sky is the limit. It is up to you, though, to make sure that you are staying locked in and setting yourself up for success.
So have fun with the journey, and continue to improve and challenge yourself physically and in every other area of your life.
Kyle Ohman
Kyle is a basketball trainer in Tampa, Florida, and is also the CEO of BasketballHQ.com and ListsForAll.com. He enjoys all things fitness, sports, writing, and outdoors.
