6 Proven Ways to Motivate Yourself to Go to the Gym

Woman exercising at the gym
Photo by Jonathan Borba

Being active has many benefits. It feels good; it is better for your health and helps fight depression, anxiety, and other illnesses. But sometimes, it just does not seem worth it getting up, or you do not want to spend the time on a treadmill or elliptical machine when there are so many other things going on in your life. If you find yourself having trouble staying motivated at the gym, here are some quick tips that may drive you to go for it.

1. Record Your Journey

Writing notes or taking pictures and videos of every milestone you reach will help you stay motivated. Make a goal to do this every time you go to the gym. For example, after your first workout in the morning, please write down your exercises and how long it took you to complete them. You could even take a picture of your abs after that first week or month. When you are tempted to skip out on working out again later, you can go back and admire all your hard work.

2. Celebrate all Achievements, Big and Small

Success is a journey, not a destination, meaning you will reach your goal when you keep moving forward. Take every small success, no matter how small, and celebrate it. If you are working out for the first time in a year, take a picture of yourself working out with a big smile and call your mother to give her the news. If you have lost weight, take a picture and post it on social media. Even if staying motivated is the hardest thing to do, if you start celebrating all small wins along the way, you will not be able to stay away from going to the gym.

3. Invest in New Gym Clothes

Your choice of clothing affects your mood, which then influences your motivation to work out. If you wear cute workout clothes rather than boring old sweats and a t-shirt, you will feel good about going to the gym and have a much more effective workout. New gym clothes don’t have to cost a fortune. For women, you can shop for affordable women's exercise leggings online for the best deals. If you look good, you feel good.

4. Find a Gym Buddy to Hold You Accountable

Working out with a friend will help you stay determined to go to the gym. Having a gym buddy is an extra motivation boost that will keep you moving forward. If you are more likely to skip out on your workout plan, seeing a friend at the gym can be just the thing that makes you feel guilty enough to get off your butt and start working out. The best part about working out with a friend is that once you both get started, it will be hard for you to stop because you will be invested in each other's success by then.

5. Give Exercising a Function in Your Life

If you link your progress to other goals in your life, it will be much easier to stay focused. If you want to lose weight to start dating again, place a picture of your crush on your exercise wall or phone. Then every time you feel like skipping out on the gym, look at the photo and think about how much better it will be when you reach your goal. If you are working out for the first time in months, tell yourself that this is your last chance to get back into shape.

6. Consider a Trainer

A certified fitness instructor contributes to the success of your workout. They know how to give you motivation helping you to reach your fitness goal. An expert can design a program based on your objectives, fitness level, and schedule. They can motivate you with their knowledge and dedication since they know what it takes to achieve your goals.

Conclusion

Exercising is no easy task for anyone, but it is something you should do. If you have found yourself lacking the motivation to hit the gym, try these tips. It will help you gain enthusiasm and get moving. Make it fun and appreciate yourself for every achievement made to ensure you are not too hard on yourself and are taking the time to applaud your effort.