Signup
It may seem irrational to sign up to a race or enter a competition when you’re out of shape, but participating in a contest can be a great motivator. Entering a competition helps immensely in creating incentive and motivation, You can’t back away from it. The date is there and set so you have to face it
Book it in
If you struggle to find the time to train, book exercise into your day just as you would a business meeting. Mark the session in your diary and rearrange other things around your session,. This is your time to invest in your future so you’ll be fitter and happier, and regular exercise will also make you more focused and productive at work.
Give a little
If a race alone isn’t enough to motivate you, then do it for charity. Try to incorporate sponsorship to raise money for charity so you’re accountable and can’t drop out, After all, if you’ve committed to running a marathon and there’s $1,000 of charity money resting on you completing the course, that’s a big guilt trip to face if you don’t
Movie night
Some films ooze motivation. Many of these films star Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Have a DVD marathon of films that you think will fire you up and get you in gear to hit the gym hard, just don’t get carried away.
Give yourself a break
If you’ve been avoiding the gym for while, don’t rush back with unrealistic expectations. You’re not going to smash any PBs during your first session back. In fact, even trying to push yourself too hard and failing to achieve what you had done previously will demotivate you even more. Start with some simple, achievable short-term goals that can progress into a more sustainable long-term objective.
Shake things up
Doing the same workout week in, week out is the fastest route to boredom and stagnation. Change your workouts every six weeks, not only to keep your muscles growing but also to keep focused and motivated on the prize.