3 Tips for Staying Motivated to Work Out

Jan 10, 2025 - Guest

We're getting to that part of the year when people start getting ready to commit to a fitness program. Whether they're just entering their retirement years and want to stay in good health in their older age, or perhaps they've gained a few extra pounds over the holidays and they want to lose their muffin top, starting a new workout program is only half the battle.

It's easy to get started, and much more difficult to stick to it. In fact, statistics show that over 75% of people who start a workout program will stop not working out entirely within three months.

First of all, it’s important to know that working out is so much more than just a way to look great. It can improve your mental health, and even your focus and performance at work.

It's in your best interest to stick to a regular exercise routine to get the maximum benefits. To help you, here are some of the best tips for staying motivated to workout.

Set Realistic Goals

One of the most common reasons why people burn out prematurely on their workout program is because they failed to set realistic goals for themselves. Without a realistic goal in mind, you tend to lose purpose and direction.

Decide exactly why you're working out, and what you hope to achieve. Define your goals and above all make sure that they are realistic. Sometimes people get so carried away with their goals, that they give up before they even get started.

So make sure that your objectives are relevant to your current fitness level, your lifestyle, and the amount of time you have. Anything else will be just plain frustrating.

Find Workouts You Love

Choose a workout that you enjoy, and you'll never feel like you worked out a day in your life. In other words, if your workout program feels fun, then it'll be that much easier to follow through with every day!

Treat your workout time as an opportunity to do something you enjoy, whether it's swimming, hiking, or even taking a yoga class.

If there are no forms of exercise you currently enjoy, then perhaps it's time you explored a little to see what you like. Try a few different exercises out, and you may be surprised to find that you love something you never imagined you could.

Create a Schedule

Creating a schedule is the only way to ensure that you're going to follow through with your workouts. If you allow yourself to improvise on your workout time, then it's easy to come up with excuses why you can't workout. Create a schedule, and stick to it as strictly as you would any other routine.

For example, if you have a doctor's appointment, you're going to go! If you have to be at work at a certain hour, you're not going to show up late, treat your workouts the same!