How do you make yourself get up and out to workout when you just can't be arsed

[chrisevans]

Thought I'd have gone a few times by now this week but spent the whole days thinking and not actually doing.

How do you make yourself get up and out when you're just really not feeling it but needs to be done?

For me it's about routine. I do it even when I don't feel like it because it's part of my week.

I get into my gym kit in the morning and just go as soon as I can. If I leave it until later in the day, I'm much less likely to do it.

Like others on this thread, I listen to my favourite podcasts while I workout.

JFDI.

Tell yourself you'll think about how much you don't want to after you've done it.

I do a two hour session on early Sunday morning. I’m back by half nine. I hate getting up for it, but enjoy it when I am there.

I wouldn't do it if I had to leave the house. I use the Joe Wicks app, get up and do it before I'm awake enough to talk myself out of it, and by the time I'm finished it's time to get in the shower and start the day.

I tell people I’m going to do it. So I’ll say I’m going for a run tomorrow lunchtime or I’m going swimming after work, because I hate it when someone says how was your run/swim and I have to say I didn’t go.

I exercise on my way to work - either run part of the way (and walk back to the car after work), or drive the whole way and then run around the area I work in. I shower at work before I start. I do it every day before work and it has just become habit. It feels strange now if I haven't run before work.

Get it done first thing- throw yourself out there before you have time to think about it and find an excuse not to do it. Tell yourself it’s half an hour and you can be back home before you know it. If that doesn’t work tell yourself you can come home after 15 minutes if you really hate it- by then you may as well finish. Remind yourself that however shit you feel at the time, you never regret it later, but the guilt of not having gone will spoil your day.
I always reward myself on the last run of the week by saying it’s “prizes for turning up” day- so if I want to take walk breaks, or cut it short, that’s fine. As long as I go. And I think ultimately that’s the key to it- as long as you go, you are embedding the habit. Once you’re out there, you may as well keep going. Each session doesn’t have to be better than the last, keeping going is what counts. And you never regret it later- knowing you’ve got another one under your belt far outweighs any aches and pains.

I don’t

I put my leggings out the night before, get up, put them on and go downstairs and do yoga. My mat etc. are all easily accessible. I use YouTube/dvds/apps which I find motivational. It's now an ingrained habit, but I started with Yoga with Adriene on a thread on here, so lots of support. I don't always feel like it, but always feel better afterwards. The analogy of it's like cleaning my teeth, a healthy habit that I just get on with.

Find something you enjoy and make it part of routine. I love running, do it at least 5 days a week, with a club a couple of days and then another few runs myself. I want to keep progressing and improving and know consistency with training is key to that. Helps when you enjoy it and feel great afterwards.

I have to do something fun - no way could I motivate myself to go to the gym. So I:

• have a dog who is very energetic and needs an hour brisk walk a day
• have an oculus quest virtual reality headset with lots of dance and fitness games
• have the peloton app as I love their strength and yoga workouts which are set to fun music

At a weekend I get it done early
In a week I promise myself I will do it for myself. I have a little chart that I colour in too - ive done it all year and it's good to look back at the months I've done well and the months not quite so well!!

I also find James Smith little motivational videos helpful (he's got a colourful way with words!!)

Do it first thing so workout clothes on tie hair back etc.
Tell myself half a hour that’s all and if any more a bonus , also I say I will feel so much better afterwards which is true .
Half a hour goes quick so is doable better to do a few 30 minutes workouts.

If you don't want to do it first thing, before dcs, I would take my gym bag to work and go straight there. Often, arranging to meet others, book particular classes. Now I do it early as I'm too knackered by the evening.

I get it done early, ideally first thing. Gives me less time to talk myself out of it!

Just do it and don’t listen to your head

I make sure my workout gear is laid out ready, my water bottle is filled ready and trainers and gym card by the door. If I don't have to look for anything it doesn't seem as hard. I take my earphones and listen to podcasts/audiobooks and I've trained myself to believe it is 'my time'. Just keep pushing until it becomes habit.

I've signed up for the walk 1000 (miles) & told a few people about it. I'm hoping that not wanting to admit I didn't do it, will motivate me to get on with it. It's less than 3 miles a day, but it's every day! However, my 'plan' is to do longer walks at the weekend & 'bank' some miles!

I'm not counting incidental walking, just actual proper walks, at a decent pace.

I used to be able to just get out of bed & get on with it, but I have a few health issues and feel utterly pants first thing & if I don't listen to my body I end up passing out, so it's not so easy these days.

I would like to find some yoga that I can do (later in the day) but I can't get on &
off the floor, I thought sitting yoga would be good but I can't do a lot of it because my knees are fucked. Any suggestions for a yoga to try welcome! (I've thought about the vets re PTS!!).

Find a way so that it’s not a chore and it’s something you look forward to and enjoy.
Going to the gym is my ‘me time’…..crap cheesy music, phone on silent, just sorting through my thoughts with no distraction.