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Tips to Stay Motivated Working Out During Quarantine:
By: Courtney Werner
At first, the whole quarantine thing seemed fun, right? A little extra time with family, the ability to sleep in a little, no longer needing to put pants on! What could be so bad? Well, for starters, working out at the gym, having that one hour with your favorite people, throwing a barbell around, was completely eliminated from your life! And now- you have to use a laundry detergent jug as a kettlebell, and hear your kids screaming in the background of your workout…not turning out to be so great!
Listed below are some tips to staying motivated during these unprecedented times. It is easy to choose to not workout, not stick with that routine, and to just munch on cheetohs all evening. But you do not want to lose those gains as well as fall into a “new” routine that leaves you unmotivated to return to the gym once the “stay home” order is lifted.
● Now is the time to start that healthy habit
The excuse of “not having enough time” or “the gym is out of my
way today” is not an excuse now that the majority of American’s are working from home. Healthy habits are always thought of with the best intentions but following through with the thought is typically the hardest part. A book that has been recommended to me on countless occasions is “7 Healthy Habits of Highly Effective People”. The first 5 relate directly to achieving your goals. The last three are beneficial to being less of a reactive person, but rather a “response-able” person. The first five related to working out are:
1. Sharpen the Saw- Remember to focus on having time for yourself to recuperate, recharge, and to make time for yourself. Making time to workout is not as selfish as people may think, taking one hour for yourself to workout is one of the best things you can do for yourself. 2. Be Proactive- Take charge and assume responsibility for your life. Take responsibility for staying with that fitness regimen, take time to think about your eating habits- no more excuses, be PROACTIVE, not reactive to your lifestyle. 3. Begin With End in Mind- “Have a vision for the future and align your actions accordingly to make it into reality.” Have you always wanted to run a mile without stopping? Wanted to lift your grandson into your arms well into your seventies? What steps are you taking in order to make that happen? 4. Put First Things First- “To prioritize your work, focus on what’s important, meaning the things that bring you closer to your vision of the future.” Try not to let things get in the way- don’t bite off more than you can chew from the get-go, make small goals and try to achieve them before adding more onto your list. 5. Think Win-Win. 6. Seek First to Understand, then to be understood. 7. Synergize. Go after your goals, there is no excuse, now is the time to take charge!
More information regarding these 7 habits can be found at:
https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/read-seven-habits-highly-effecti ve-people-3-minutes?utm_source=cpp
● Eat out less
Now that you are unable to go out to dinner due to shut
downs, now is the time to take advantage of learning how to cook, and cooking healthy! Once you start eating healthy, you may start to feel better about yourself, which typically leads to sustaining a healthy fitness routine as well. If you put “crappy” food in your system, it’s typical that the effects of it can leave you feeling tired all day- and not motivated to want to workout. Referencing the article, “Are you tired all the time? Food might be to blame”, the author states, “But, even when we aren’t overweight, the foods we eat can leave us feeling sluggish and worn out.” Making sure to get fruits and vegetables into your diet, hitting all food groups and not skipping a meal- all can lead to a more productive day and you! https://psychcentral.com/blog/are-you-tired-all-the-time-food-might-be-to -blame/
● Get the family involved
To help to stay motivated, find an accountability partner- it
can be a friend from the gym, a family member, or even (in my case!) my dogs. They do not allow me to sit too long before reminding me that it is time to get moving again- many times I find it annoying, but it also helps to motivate me. If you have a family member at home that has always looked up to you for working out, and prioritizing fitness- use them as motivation to continue your healthy habit. If they are wanting to get involved too, now is the time to have them try the workouts with you at home! Involving the family can start a healthy habit for when this quarantine (hopefully!) ends in the future. My parents have started walking together 3 miles everyday, a great habit to start- anything that gets your heart rate pumping and your blood flowing.
Start with these three tips to stay motivated to workout during this quarantine. I am proud of you for all that you have accomplished during these weeks so far. Do not be afraid to start today. It is easy to put off, but focus and determination have a way of surprising you!
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