How to Exercise When You Don’t Feel Like it

No matter how motivated, energized or regimented you are when it comes to getting in your daily workout, you’re likely to face a day that you just don’t feel like exercising. Whether you’re exhausted from a poor night’s sleep, you’re thinking about all of the other tasks on your plate or you just can’t seem to muster up the energy to lace up your sneakers and hit the pavement, there are times that working out just doesn’t seem appealing.

With all the countless health benefits that come along with regular exercise, most Americans try to adhere to the recommended 30 minutes of activity a day. In fact, just 30 minutes of walking every day can help you manage your weight, improve your mood, increase energy levels, and help you sleep better at night, according to Mayo Clinic. So how do you get yourself to exercise when you’re just not in the mood?

1. Enlist a Buddy

One of the best ways to get motivated to move is to commit time to walking or running with someone else. Call a friend, grab your spouse or stop by your neighbor’s house to recruit them to join you. This will hold you accountable and make the activity more of a social event than a workout. You can even use the Lumo Run sensor which can serve as a personal accountability coach to motivate you to achieve your best performance.

2. Dress the Part

Oftentimes, the biggest hurdle to actually going to the gym or getting outside to exercise is the actual act of getting ready to go. Once you’re dressed in workout gear – shoes and all – it’ll be much more difficult to turn back to the couch and kick up your feet or to crawl into bed. Whether you feel like it or not, lace up your running shoes, slip on your yoga pants or swap your cozy sweatshirt for a tank top and you’ll be halfway out the door before you realize.

3. Set a Goal

Setting a daily goal, a weekly goal or even a monthly goal will help you stay on track in your fitness regimen. This goal can include anything from walking a certain number of steps each day or completing a local marathon event by year’s end. By setting a realistic and achievable goal that you can easily track and to which you can hold yourself accountable, you’re more likely to set your competitive drive in gear in order to reach your objective.

4. Fuel Up

More often than not, your body is fatigued or lethargic because it doesn’t have the energy source or hydration it needs to get moving. This is particularly true first thing in the morning, as your body has gone without food or water for many hours. Additionally, you lose water weight through the emission of water vapor and sweat as you sleep, according to NPR. Try drinking a high-protein shake or guzzling down a glass of cold water before attempting to exercise so you set your metabolism and energy levels in motion.

5. Sign Up for a Class

If your workout regimen has become so repetitive that it’s just not interesting enough anymore, you’re more likely to opt for catching up on reruns at home than heading to the gym. If this is the case, sign up for an exercise class (they’re usually free with your membership) or make an appointment with a personal trainer to shake up your routine. Your mind and your body will benefit, as switching up your sequence will help you work new muscles and get you out of your monotonous rut.

6. Shake Up Your Soundtrack

Have you ever found yourself unknowingly bobbing your head or tapping your foot when a popular pop song comes on the radio overhead while waiting on line at a coffee shop? For most people, music has the incredible power to make them move, especially if it’s a fast-paced dance song or widely popular jingle. Make yourself a CD or download some new songs on iTunes, and use this as the soundtrack to your workout. You’ll find yourself groovin’ and movin’ before you know it!

There are always times when a workout feels like the last thing you want to do, but these six simple suggestions will help you get motivated to move when you need it most. While it’s certainly healthy – and even recommended – to take a few “rest days” a week, regular exercise is a crucial component of a healthy lifestyle. Make a point to move every day on your own, with a friend, at a class or to the sound of new beats, and it will become a routine that you won’t want to skip!

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