“I can’t be bothered to go to the gym, I’m just not feeling motivated! I’ll go tomorrow.”
The above is a familiar refrain, and one that I’m hearing often. So without entering into a long discussion on free-weights vs machines, aerobic vs anaerobic activity, whether or not stretching is good for you, here are a list of reasons you should be elsewhere, sweating.
1. Promise yourself that you’ll go to the gym after reading this list. In fact, reading past this point is acceptance of the promise.
2. Listen to music. Doing so, releases endorphins which while making you feel happy, have the added benefit of (hopefully) making you more enthused about working out.
3. Don’t think about it. By thinking about it, you’re trying to rationalise not punishing yourself for whatever period of time your choice of activity takes. No-one achieved their goals by only thinking about it. So don’t.
4. Change it up. Maybe your routine is boring. Or you’ve plateaued. Try different combinations, sports, a different exercise DVD. Reverse the direction of your run. You get the idea.
5. Justify the time. You’re investing an hour of your time in YOU. When else will you get the opportunity to do that?
6. Grab a workout partner. Nothing pushes you harder than wanting to get one over someone else.
7. Read. Read about your heroes, about people you admire. Follow their examples. They had the same mental blocks in whatever they were trying to achieve. Push through them.
8. Next time, write down the time and place of your planned activity, and put it where you’ll see it often. Just trust me on this one.
9. Find a good reason to be doing what you’re doing. And if you don’t have one, give yourself a target. Maybe you saw something cool on YouTube that you want to be able to do. Work at it. Use it as a means to an end. ACHIEVE.
10. Would you rather a) be out running, lifting weights, sparring, sweating or b) sitting in front of a computer reading this?
Time to make good on that promise.
hardworkpaysbills.com 