I just CAN’T today!

Do you ever experience those days where the LAST thing you want to do is workout?? Maybe you’re feeling low on energy, maybe you’re stressed out, or maybe you just really really don’t want to. I’m here to tell you that all of this is normal and guess what, it’s OKAY! Sometimes you just have those days, but I often find that when this happens to me, the exact thing I need is to workout. You may have heard before that you’ll never regret a workout. I believe this is true in the sense that you really only have the benefits to gain and nothing to lose from exercising. If you find yourself feeling this way a lot, there are lots of strategies you can try to keep you motivated. Read on to learn about some of my favorites.

Sign up

By signing up for a workout class ahead of time (whether that be a few days in advance to a few hours) you’re automatically holding yourself accountable. This is especially true if you have to pay for the class ahead of time! Think of the days or certain situations that most often leave you feeling unmotivated to get your workout in. If you know of these situations ahead of time, then you can proactively avoid having to deal with the mental struggle of “do I or don’t I?” By signing up for a class, you inevitably make time for your workout in your schedule, and you know what to expect.

Picture yourself succeeding

If you can imagine yourself after your workout, you may feel more motivated to get moving. What’s better than the feeling of accomplishment after a challenging workout? If you keep this in mind, you’re reminding yourself of the instant benefits of exercise. The best part – you can only achieve this by getting through your workout!

Do something small

This one is my favorite to keep in mind when I’m feeling low on energy. When I truly can’t fathom the thought of a full intense workout, I tell myself anything is better than nothing. These are the days I choose to do my “express” workouts. This typically includes 15 to 20 minutes of cardio, and around 5 to 10 minutes of strength training. Although this doesn’t sound like much, it ends up being better than the alternative which is not working out all. I tell myself that if I can get even a 30-minute workout in, I’ll thank myself later.

Try one of these the next time you feel like skipping out on your workout!

Written by GUADs staff member Emily.