How to Exercise When You Don’t Feel Like It – 10 Workout Motivation Tips

You know the benefits of exercise. You know you feel great after a workout. The trouble is, in the moment it can sure be hard to find the motivation to get moving. Here are 10 workout motivation tips for how to exercise when you don’t feel like it.

How to Exercise When You Don’t Feel Like It

Yesterday’s post was about How to Eat Healthy When You Don’t Feel Like It.

I totally get how difficult it is to get motivated to eat right and exercise when you are feel down or overwhelmed with the process. You want to, you have the desire, but getting going is the tough part.

Here are two truths about exercise motivation (from someone who has been there!):

1. Your want-it is not going to flare up and become a burning desire for exercise if you’ve always hated it. Please try to get past this fallacy in thinking. Other people hate it sometimes too yet still do it. Start with something small, get out there, and be the strong person you are. You’ve conquered way tougher stuff in your life!

How to Learn to Love Exercise {Video}

2. Something is better than nothing. Or as we call it in our Faithful Finish Lines group, #SIBTN. You might psych yourself out into doing nothing because you think it won’t matter, but that’s not true.

Something Is Better Than Nothing {Video Exercise Motivation Tip}

All healthy choices count! Get out and do something. Watch this very short video by Chris Drews about #SIBTN:

In our Faithful Finish Lines group, we applaud #SIBTN and cheer each other on for all the little choices we make that count toward bigger, healthier goals. It doesn’t matter if it seems tiny and insignificant. It counts.

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10 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Exercise – When You are Tired or Don’t Want to Move

Are you feeling tired and don’t want to get moving? Here are 10 ways to motivate yourself to get up and go.

1. When the alarm goes off for a morning workout say to yourself, “It’s just the first 10 seconds that are hard.”
2. Tell yourself you only have to go to the gym for 15 minutes or run a few blocks. Once you are out, you will probably want to do more.
3. Have everything prepared the night before – clothes laid out, coffee in the coffee pot, music ready.
4. “Don’t think. Just do.” Don’t let yourself think too much or you will find excuses and talk yourself out of it.
5. Make a date to work out with a friend.
6. Bribe yourself. Promise yourself a non-food reward when you are finished, like a hot bath or indulging in your favorite TV show.
7. Play your workout music to get you pumped and out the door.
8. Set a goal. Nothing is as motivating as knowing a 5K or other event is around the corner.
9. Say to yourself, “All athletes work out whether they feel like it or not.”
10. Focus on the reward. Think about how good you’ll feel when the workout is finished.

Food Journal & Fitness Diary with Daily Gratitude and Meal Planner for Healthy Living and Weight Loss DietFitlosophy Fitbook: Fitness Journal and Planner for Workouts, Weight Loss and Exercise, Black Single (12-Week)17” x 11.5” Dry Erase Magnetic Weekly Meal Planner Whiteboard for Fridge with Stain Resistant Technology by Plan Smart – Bonus: 3 Quality Dry Erase Markers with Eraser IncludedWeekly Meal Planner and Tracker Dry Erase Board – Refrigerator Calendar Food Diary Tracks Water, Healthy Snacks, and Weight Loss – Magnetic Diet Smart Planner + 4 Dry Erase Markers by Healthy Planner

 

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Free Workout Motivation Download

Here is a gift for you to help with motivation. This Top 10 printable was previously a subscriber-only free gift. I’ve opened it to everyone as part of The Hope Toolbox series. Print this and post it somewhere to use it as extra motivation to get moving on a tough day.

The Hope Toolbox

Today’s Bible Verse:

The heart of man plans his way,
    but the Lord establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

Today’s Journaling Prompt:

Is exercise a part of your life on a regular basis? What changes do you want to make? What’s a small step you can start today?

Resources

Psychology Today: So Does Exercise Treat Depression?

100 lb Weight Loss: How Did You DO It?

A Day in the Life of Maintaining a 100 lb Weight Loss

31 Days of Weirdly Faithful Fitness

What I Learned from Wearing a Fitness Tracker

Are you following The Holy Mess on Instagram? Check it out for new, original content.

Wonderfully Made: Faithful Fitness

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