How to make yourself actually go to the gym

It happens to everyone. Those days where you feel extra tired. Maybe it’s raining outside, you had a late night, or you’re in an extra long “recovery mode.” Maybe you skipped a workout a week ago and the motivation is still absent.  For whatever reason, you just don’t want to go to the gym.

No one has the magic capability to make you go to the gym or even want to–only you can do that. But until you genuinely want to go, use these tips to motivate yourself to get moving.

Start eating

Go to your kitchen. Find something healthy like a fruit or a vegetable. A raw carrot or plain yogurt will do. Eat whatever you have found and pat yourself on the back for taking the first step towards reaching your fitness goals

Get dressed

Put on those sexy old gym clothes! Or go buy some sexy new gym clothes if you’re feeling up to it and needing a boost of confidence. Any gym clothes will do, as long as they have you prepared for sweat. Don’t forget your socks and shoes, too. Those let your brain know you are ready to go. This isn’t too tough yet, right?

Take a selfie

Take some photos of yourself in a full length mirror. Nothing like indulging in some ego to get you motivated. Think about the before and after photos you see online and how your after photo would look. Remember to make goals that are realistic for your age and body type.

Be prepared

Think about all of the exercises you could do at the gym that day. Research them and write down a list of ones that you want to try. Switching up your routine and planning it out makes the gym more exciting and an activity to look forward to rather than a chore. Additionally, find a time that works for you. If going in the morning just is not working for you then consider switching things up to an afternoon workout instead.

Reward yourself

There’s a good chance you’re not going to the gym because you’d rather be doing something else. Remind yourself that you can still do those things! Make your favorite Netflix show, smoothie or coffee a reward for going to the gym rather than an excuse to not go.

Just add water

Start to think of ways you can make small changes. If you drink a glass of lemonade every day, add a little bit of water every time. Keep adding more and more water and soon enough you will no longer be craving lemonade. Cutting out sugar in as many ways possible will make you happier and healthier–and that feeling will help motivate you to get to the gym and stay healthy. But keep the cutting gradual. It is near impossible to stop cold turkey without getting back into the habit.

Make $$$

If nothing else is working, then this absolutely has to. When gym goers were offered $100 each time they went to the gym their retention rate increased significantly. Because what is a better incentive than money? If it motivates you like the research has shown, maybe it’s time to check out the app pact. It utilizes the reward and punishment technique by charging an authorized amount from your credit card or paypal when you miss a class. It rewards you with money from a common pool funded by yourself and pact-breakers when you reach your goal. This can be the extra push you need to help get into the routine of not even considering missing a class or workout.

What motivates someone else may not work for you, so it’s important to find the best ways to push yourself. But we hope at least one of these easy hacks will get you into the gym and begin the journey to the results you want!

Do you have creative ways of motivating yourself to get to the gym? Or motivating your clients to get to your gym? Let us know in the comments!