Has being in quarantine the last few months caused you to lose your motivation to keep up your regular workouts? Has the temporary closure of your gym left you feeling a bit lazy? Well, you're not alone. Many of us have stopped our regular workouts, and found other ways to fill the time, opting for reading, catching up on some Netflix series, baking and eating, instead. But, now is the perfect time to explore new ways to stay active, move your body, and get motivated to keep working out. So, here are a few suggestions to help you get back to moving your body everyday and maintaining a workout schedule.
Plan your workouts the night before
One of the best ways to set yourself up for success is to plan. Plan your workout the night before. Choose your workout (whether it's live on Instagram, a saved workout, or a bike ride), then lay out your workout clothes, and maybe even set an alarm to remind yourself 10 minutes before you are supposed to start.
Workout first thing in the morning
I know this may not be possible for everyone, but if you can, get your workout out of the way first thing in the morning. I prefer to workout in the morning. It wakes me up, gives me a boost of energy, puts me in a better mood, and helps me focus on the rest of my day. Leaving your workout until later just leaves you running the risk of not fitting it in if your day gets busier than expected, or provides you with the opportunity to find excuses why you shouldn't do it. If you can't workout in the morning, or simply aren't a morning person, make sure that you actually put it into your
schedule and block off some time when it works best for you.
Try some new workouts
Sometimes changing it up a bit and trying something new is enough to get you motivated and excited to workout. There are so many great Instagram accounts out there with daily live workouts and saved IGTV workouts (some of my favourites include @oxygenyogagta, @thenaturallynatalie, @nourishmovelove), as well as numerous free apps with a variety of different workouts at all different skill levels. If your workouts typically consist of strength training, maybe try some yoga or pilates. If you are a runner, maybe try biking instead. Your body, just like your mind, can get bored with the same type of workout all of the time causing your motivation to plummet. So, try to implement variety to keep your workouts effective.
Get your family involved
You're all cooped up together, you might as well as get active together! Sometimes it helps to feed off of your kids energy to help get you motivated. They may not want to do your pilates or HIIT class, but I bet they would love to go for a bike ride, play tag or hopscotch, or maybe even help you design an outdoor workout with some skipping, obstacles, and other fun exercises.
Get outside
This is the perfect time of year to move your workouts outside. I don't know about you, but I definitely prefer to workout outside! Good weather and sunshine is a real motivator for me. When the weather cooperates, your workout options expand and you are not just confined to your indoor gym. Go for a walk, a run, a bike ride, or simply move your indoor workout to the outdoors. Move your mat and your free weights out to your backyard, your deck, or your balcony and get moving! You can also get a very effective workout by just using your own body weight and your outdoor space (stairs for running, chairs for tricep dips, fences for wall sits, etc.).
Make sure someone holds you accountable
Whether it's someone you're living with, or a friend who can workout with you through Zoom or FaceTime, or at a safe distance, find someone to keep you accountable, someone who is also relying on you to keep them accountable. When you've committed to a workout with someone else at a scheduled time, you (and your workout buddy) are more likely to follow through with it.
Remember how it makes you feel
Don't just focus on how your workout makes you feel physically, remember what is does for your mental health. Thinking about how I am going to feel after I workout, how my mood will improve, is enough to get me motivated to get moving. If I am feeling sluggish and tired, I know it will wake me up, and if I am feeling grumpy, I know it will cheer me up.