5 Ways to Fight Workout Excuses

Tired of procrastinating about working out? Are you constantly skipping workouts and finding it difficult to make it to the gym? If you’re paying for a gym membership but visiting only a few times per month, use the following tips to help overcome procrastination and get on track.

5 Ways to Fight Workout Procrastination

1. Set achievable goals – If you push yourself to the limit at the beginning of your workout journey, it will be difficult to maintain that level of exertion. Coming home sore and overworked is not going to help you overcome procrastination to get to the gym the following day. Instead, set goals that are slightly outside your current fitness level. This will help you to continue training consistently.
2. Be consistent – Treat fitness as a daily habit, just like brushing your teeth. Set a specific time when you will do your workouts and stick to them like an appointment. Soon enough exercise will become a habit and a part of your daily life.
3. Just get started – If you find yourself constantly procrastinating before a workout, then just do the absolute bare minimum to get started. Once you start, you will probably want to do more. For example, if you are procrastinating about doing a 30-minute jog, just do 5 minutes; chances are after 5 minutes you will want to continue.
4. Do an enjoyable form of exercise – If you find that running on a treadmill or lifting weights is too mechanical and boring, then try choosing a physical activity that you enjoy. This could include sports or outdoor activities such as tennis, rock climbing or soccer. If you do activities you like, you will get the beneficial effects of a workout without it actually feeling like one.
5. Work out with a friend – Apart from the fact that you will feel less lonely, working out with a friend will give you the added bonus of holding you accountable. You will be less likely to skip a workout if you have made an arrangement to meet a friend at the gym. Just make sure you are working out with someone who is at a similar fitness level and enjoys the same activities, and the time will fly by — making your workout more fun.