Maintaining Motivation

I’ve watched enough live Q & As online to know that the most frequent fitness question asked is “How do you stay motivated?”

I started exercising at a very young age and I am still motivated to stay fit. So, I feel I am qualified to answer this question. However, there have been many times throughout my pursuit of fitness where I have questioned my own motivation. I remember on many occasions I prepped my food on a Sunday for the week whilst listening motivational clips on YouTube, ready to hit the gym in the morning. In reality, the only I hit was the snooze button. I failed and questioned my motivation. Did I want it bad enough? Comparing myself to others who post early morning routines made me feel guilty.

One of the reasons I didn’t make it to the gym was because, well, motivational videos aren’t really effective. They’re like a chocolate bar. It may make you feel good for a few minutes but it doesn’t have a lasting effect. The other reason wasn’t due to lack of motivation, rather it was the routine that was flawed. I’m not a morning person, therefore, exercising in the morning for me wasn’t ideal. I never enjoyed my workouts first thing in the morning and never got the most of them on the odd occasion I did managed to. I work much better in the evening where I have more energy and I feel I’m not rushing.

If consistency is the key to success, we must find a solution that fits. As the saying goes, you never need to work a day in your life if you have a job that you love. It’s the same with fitness. You never have to exercise if you found a form of it that you enjoy. Moreover, eating healthy food isn’t a chore if you eat that you savor.

I achieved my best fitness results when I found a routine that suited my daily life and preferences. That was exercising straight after work when I still had enough energy and a little time to myself. I was truly in a fitness flow when I was so engrossed with working out. I loved going to the gym, eating healthily and everything else that went with it. Exercise seemed effortless. However, even with this mindset there were still days when I lacked motivation. There were days I really couldn’t face it, or when my workouts were halfhearted.

The best thing I did around that time was take two weeks off fitness altogether. I was afraid I was going to lose my progress. Evidence suggests it takes months off exercise to lose progress. So, I took time off all forms of fitness.  No exercise, no tracking calories, no guilt. It was so refreshing and gave me time to rest, refocus, and reflect on my progress. I came back ready and super motivated to go again. I realized I wasn’t lacking motivation. The rest gave me perspective and clarity. We’re going have days we’re feeling down or lacking energy. It’s only natural.

Take time to look back on your progress and see how far you’ve come. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Sometimes we all need a pat on our backs for reassurance and it can be most effective if that comes from ourselves rather than someone else. A great way to track our progress is through pictures. Regularly taking pictures is real physical evidence of our progress. If running is your thing, tracking times is just as effective. It proves what we’re doing is worthwhile and it’s working.

However, I would warn not to take too many breaks either. Results are often achieved from doing what is required regardless if we have the motivation to do it or not. It’s not motivation we need, rather it’s determination. There have been many days when I didn’t feel like working out but I knew it was worth my while going to the gym. Rather than debate it in my mind, I didn’t engage in negative thoughts, I packed my gym bag and got going. I put this down to determination. Staying fit can be a challenge at the best of times, therefore, it requires strong work ethic, mental intensity, and a real desire to improve.

Furthermore, there is a misconception that motivation comes before action. On the contrary, action must come first. Motivation or momentum is created thereafter. I have experienced this with exercise and writing. Sometimes the hardest part is actually going to the gym. Once you’re thee it’s not so bad and you do actually enjoy it. Oftentimes, I didn’t feel like writing but I got started, new thoughts come to me and before I know I’ve already written a page. Ideas and solutions have a habit of popping up in your head whilst you’re undertaking tasks. This can encourage you to continue in what you’re doing.

There is no point searching for a wave of motivation to come over us. Because it’s likely that it may never come. We have to create that motivation ourselves and that is done through action. Continual repeated action will produce results which, in turn, improves our belief and confidence in what we are doing, ultimately, creating a will to go on.

Motivation is the fire that fuels desire. With steely determination, that fire won’t burn out.