I get it. The last thing you want to do after being in class for hours everyday is workout. Especially when it’s cold and windy outside and you live on the opposite side of campus from Shirk.
Even more so when a new season of your favorite tv show came out today and your bed looks really comfy. But if you’re someone who’s been wanting to get in better shape, be healthier, or simply enjoys exercising, I’ve created three key elements that help you become and stay motivated to be active.
- Find the right workout outfit
Exercising can be uncomfortable enough as it is, so finding clothes that make you feel secure and confident while working out is really important. There have been plenty of times when I’ve seen people at the gym in jeans, sandals or something else totally impractical and have just said to myself Why are you making this harder than it already is?
Also, if you’re someone like me who works out in the afternoon, it can sometimes be a pain in the butt to change your clothes in the middle of the day, but it’s a lot easier if you enjoy the clothes you’re changing into.
2. Find the right mode of media for you
Have you ever hit a certain song on your playlist – in the middle of your workout – that completely ruins the vibe? Prior to the last six months I’ve always been someone who solely works out while listening to music. But lately I’ve realized that it’s really easy to hit a song on a playlist that really interrupts the flow of a workout, especially when it comes to running.
Over the last couple months I’ve started listening to podcasts while I work out and I’ve noticed that the steady flow is better at helping me stay focused. Also depending on what I’m listening to, I get to learn something new or at least interact with diverse opinions while I’m exercising.
Some of my recent favorites are “Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain,” “Hannah Maute’s Digital Diary,” “We Said What We Said with Ricky and Denzel” or literally any one of the thousand re-watch podcasts that sprung out of lockdown.
However, if you’re someone that insists on listening to music during a workout, the Legally Blonde Musical soundtrack absolutely slaps.
3. Stay focused on your own goals
I know it can be hard to walk into the gym at the start of a workout and not instantly compare your body and endurance to everyone else’s. The most important thing to remember is that everyone is at different stages of their health and wellness journey, and not everyone’s timeline is the same.
So don’t pay attention to the guy doing at least 7 mph on the treadmill or the guy grunting on the bench press, and don’t expect yourself to deadlift 200 lbs or run a five-minute mile the first time you step in the gym. Take your time, know your own limits and be kind to your body.