Motivation is an internal process and is the reason for your actions, desires a, needs and goals. It is also what makes you behave in a particular way or is the cause of wanting to repeat behaviour
ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT MOTIVATE YOU… MOTIVATION COMES FROM WITHIN YOU…
Given that your thought processes does in fact influence your behaviour, it is important our thoughts and state of mind is healthy to keep you moving in the right direction
We know, it’s near impossible to be 100% in the moment and crushing your weekly training goals EVERY SINGLE WEEK and that’s ok, we are only human after all but there are some simple things you can do or way to “think” better when your enthusiasm for training is starting to tremble
TIP 1: KNOW WHY YOU ARE TRAINING IN THE FIRST PLACE
You should know why you are doing what you are doing Think what your dreams and goals are this will motivate you to take action to achieve them
When you feel yourself start to waver, remind yourself of these and WHY you started
TIP 2: SET REALISTIC GOALS
It has been said that understanding what motivates you will help you design a realistic set of personalised goals. It is important not to set unrealistic goals, you may need to also consider other life goals and try to integrate them with your training goals REMEMBER the first step in behaviour change (starting a new fitness journey) is often the hardest- so don’t be too hard on yourself when it seems like you aren’t meeting your expectations right away
Also it’s OK to adjust your session to accommodate your mood – maybe you didn’t have a great sleep the night before, maybe your feeling super sore from training 4 days in a row or maybe “life” has just thrown a curve ball at you (don’t we all get those at times!!) its OK to lower your weight, its OK to scale a workout, its OK to do a little less than too much, after all…
‘The only bad workout is the one you didn’t do’
TIP 3: KNOW WHAT AFFECTS YOUR MOTIVATION AND CREATE STRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH IT
We are not made of steel, we are human, we are blood and bones and it is perfectly normal to find yourself lacking motivation when you are faced with challenges, whether it be physical or mental challenges
If you recognise in yourself things that affect your training motivation find ways to help get past them. Maybe you could tee up a training buddy, someone who you are accountable to, who can help drive you. Maybe investing in an Apple watch or a Fit bit, with this you will be able to see your daily progress and even get little reminders through out the day to move
STAY MOTIVATED… Tweak your thoughts, really tap into what inspired you and use this to push past your training lulls.
DON’T EVER GIVE UP… Every day is a new one, so stay in tune with your body. Learn how to read your physical and emotional states and respond to them accordingly.
YOU ARE ON A JOURNEY… be flexible, actually recognise that you are on a fitness journey so be prepared to modify your training plans in order to sustain your goals over time.