Making plans and wanting to workout is easy—it’s the showing up to the gym with running shoes on that is the hard part. But we’ve come up with five easy ways to make finding that ever-elusive motivation to mount the evil treadmill seem a little less daunting and a little more—dare we say it—desirable! We guarantee at least one of these tips will work for you!
1. Make it a mini vacation.
Spending an hour away from your everyday routine can be as rejuvenating as a mini getaway because it provides the perfect time to forget about work, chores, errands, and other responsibilities. To make the most of it, watch your favorite TV show on a gym TV or your iPod or iPad while on the treadmill, listen to an upbeat 30-minute workout mix with all of your favorite songs on the elliptical machine, or catch up on emails while on a stationary bike. A clean inbox plus endorphins is the perfect recipe for clear-headed satisfaction!
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2. Schedule small rewards to keep you on track.
Giving yourself something to look forward to makes working out much more fun! Track your progress with special rewards like a new pair of shoes, cute new workout clothes, or a nice big frozen yogurt after you’ve kept 10 gym dates in a row. Better yet, make an appointment for a massage after you’ve completed a local charity walk or fun run. Write your weekly rewards on a calendar that counts down to bathing suit season for added motivation.
3. Turn gym time into quality time with a friend.
Sure you’re there to break a sweat, but you can also lift weights, do ab exercises, and walk at a fast pace while catching up on the latest scoop on work, boyfriends, and family. Plus, it’s harder to slack off when someone else is by your side. If you don’t both belong to the same gym, invite your BFF over for a celebrity workout session a la Kim Kardashian’s exercise DVD.
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