Ever find yourself struggling to get into workout mode and dreading the walk to the gym? You’re not alone. Even the most enthusiastic fitness enthusiasts have their off days and need a little extra motivation to get their fitness regime back on track. So if your pinup of that hot gym instructor doesn’t make you want to get down and drop 20, not to worry. Because here are five mantras you can repeat that’ll give you that oomph on those rough days.
#1 I think I can, I know I can.
There will always be times when we feel the workout is tougher than we can handle, and the temptation to give up is real. When that happens, you can either quit or say ‘yes, I can’ and keep pushing. And when your brain’s along for the ride, your body will follow suit.
#2 One breath in, one breath out.
A lot of the times we feel like giving up because we’re focusing on what’s left of the task at hand and what it takes to accomplish it. That’s when we start doubting our abilities, which affects our mood and motivation. By giving your mind something else to focus on besides the pain, you force yourself to tackle the workout one moment at the time. And before you know it, you’ve completed your workout.
#3 My best is good enough.
With the rise of social media and tons of gym-goers posting images or videos of them performing impressive fitness feats, it’s easy to fall into the comparison game and feel lousy or inadequate. But that’s when you need to remember who you’re working out for and why. The last thing you need when you’re working on yourself is being compared to others. As long as you’re doing your best in the gym, you should be proud of yourself.
#4 Today, I will.
Whether at work or in the gym, it’s easy to procrastinate when the going gets tough. But that’s when you need to channel your inner mojo, grit your teeth and just do it. Because the longer you put off something, the tougher it’s going to seem. And when you do get right down to business, you’ll realise it’s not as hard as it looks. Like the saying goes, “never put off till tomorrow what you can do today’.
#5 Just keep swimming
What can we say, Dory said it best. Life’s full of tough situations and there’ll always be a time when we just want to give up and walk away. And when that happens, it can be hard to stay motivated. But as long as you remember to just keep going, it’ll all be over sooner than you have time to gripe about it.
Finding it hard to stay motivated during tough workouts? Have other great motivational workout mantras or ways to stay focused? Share your stories and questions in the comments below!
