It’s often easy to feel motivated and inspired about a new goal but what happens when that newfound motivation wears thin? When it’s cold outside and you’ve got ‘too much’ to do?
Any goal takes commitment and a lot of people have this ‘all or nothing’ mindset, which usually fails. You don’t have to completely change overnight nor make any drastic changes but instead incorporate small, measurable ones that will help you to achieve your overall goal.
Here are our top tips to staying motivated even on those ‘meh’ kind of days.
Plan, Plan, Plan
Do not underestimate the power of a good plan! Schedule your workouts into your weekly planner so that you have no excuse not to go. The same goes for food prep – if you know you’ve got a busy week with back to back meetings organise your own food. Write a shopping list on a Sunday evening and make sure you have all your groceries ready for the week ahead. You’ll be less likely to want to order a takeaway if you have all your meals and groceries organised. Fail to plan – plan to fail and it’s true!
Make exercise social
Short on time but want to go to the gym and catch up with friends too? Why not combine the two? This is one of our favourite hacks! You’ll fuel each other’s motivation and it’s the perfect excuse to grab a well-deserved brunch afterwards. Sundays never sounded so good.
Variety is key
You’ve heard of the term ‘creatures of habit’ where we end up eating and doing the same things over and over again. So why not switch things up? Get outside – go for a walk instead of running on the treadmill. Switch up your meals and order something different when you eat out or pick up seasonal ingredients to incorporate into your meals at home.
Social media
In a social media-driven society, it is almost impossible to avoid it in some way, shape or form. We are becoming increasingly aware of the negative impact social media has on our physical and mental health. What we say – unfollow accounts that cause negative emotions, promote detox teas, summer bodies, abs in 10 minutes and people who generally promote lifestyles and goals that are unachievable for you. Instead, follow accounts that empower you, are relatable and inspire that inner self-motivation. Try to take advice from people who generally care about you and your wellbeing rather than ‘influencers’ who are making money out of selling diet culture.
Focus on how you feel
It is important to enjoy everything in moderation. Self-deprivation tends to majorly backfire so if you really feel like a treat – eat it and enjoy it. Although hard, it is important to shift your focus on how healthy eating makes you feel rather than how you look. Focus on the benefits that it creates such as clearer skin, less bloating, boosts in mood and energy. This way you will feel more motivated to continue than concentrating on how much weight you’ve lost.
Walk as much as you can
Walking is a great way to get your steps in if you are unable to make it to the gym, it is also a great way to explore more of your neighbourhood or a new city. Walking in the fresh air will improve your overall mood, lower your carbon footprint and save you money. It’s a win-win!
Don’t let one minor setback put you down
It is normal to ‘slip up’ we are all human and sometimes you are just not feeling it but don’t beat yourself up or let it affect your overall goal, it is all part of the process. Remember, it is what we do 80% of the time that counts!
