I often hear from people who’ve lost their healthy mojo. Whether running’s your thing, or CrossFit, or sampling every single group class at your gym… you may come to a point where you just don’t love it the way you used to. It’s a routine. No longer fun.
Before you have the “it’s not you, it’s me” talk with — well, yourself and your fitness routine — please reconsider. Think of all the good times you had and how you felt back then. Can you bring those times back?
Try these 10 simple ways of spicing up your training — and fall back in love with it:
1. Find a friend and be fun and fit together
To state the obvious: a running buddy, a swimming partner or gym companion will keep you accountable and motivated. You can each show the other your favorite routes or fitness routine and have fun with new things!
2. Challenge yourself and win!
Climb a big scary hill on your bike (seven times?), run up a challenging trail, try a new class at the gym. Find something that scares you and show that big scary thing who’s boss and be proud of yourself. Lost mojo? It’s been hiding right there behind that big achievement.
3. Ride under that rainbow
Like the darkest of rain clouds, the exercise slump will pass. Help it out by taking your butt out there and back at it sooner. And enjoy the rainbows.
4. Try something radically different.
Like horseback riding. Or paintball. Dodgeball? Tough dodger? The whackier it gets, the more you’ll appreciate the beauty of your sport or exercise of choice. Running: so simple, yet safe from flying balls of paint or horse poop!
5. Remember the good times.
Every mojo-less day, take 10 minutes to sit down and think of nothing but how you felt after a particularly memorable workout, training session or race. What did you wear? Who was with you? What did you eat for breakfast that morning? What’d you eat afterwards? Now you want to go do it again, don’t you?
6. Explore a new place
Head out on an unfamiliar route. Have absolutely no idea where it will take you and no expectations about it whatsoever. Take it easy, discover new things and take lots of pictures. It’s like exotic travel, but sweaty. Feeling better already?
7. Make new friends
Join a new training group or club, gym or class. Before you know it, you’ll have at least three new friends to motivate you and keep you accountable.
8. Make a list of all your achievements
And proudly display it — or them! They’ll be looking you in the eye every time you feel tempted to hang on the couch with Netflix instead of head to the gym to train.
9. Movies, books, songs
Speaking of Netflix. It’s got a whole big ol’ section of sports movies. Funny, romantic, tear jerkers – watch them all! While walking on the treadmill or riding a stationary bike on a rainy day.
10. Jump right in!
Don’t wait around. Don’t toe the water. Get back into it, all in. So what if you’re sore for a week afterwards? It’s your muscles thanking you for the wake-up call.
From one endorphin addict to another, cheers! And happy LOVE day!
Good tips! If I have a Netflix series that I’m binge watching, I make a deal with myself that I can only watch it after my workout (or during, if I’m on the trainer or treadmill)
Ha! That’s a great idea. No Vampire Diaries for me until I do my 1:30 hr run today! 🙂
I’m starting marathon training next week for a race that is in September.. I know it is a long ways a way, but I felt I needed extra time because my body likes to get injured. :S So thanks for the help to fall in love with training!
Never too early to start building a good base! Enjoy your training – getting stronger and fitter is the best!
Fantastic tips!! I’d love to tag you on twitter but can’t find your handle anywhere
Thanks! I do need to do a solid overhaul of social sharing and contact buttons on my site! On Twitter, I’m @Aleks_Todorova!