There are different reasons people stop exercising. Sometimes it’s necessary to stop until the injury is healed. Also, more often than not people get tired of working out and simply give up on taking care of their body and health. This is nothing to worry about as long as you get back into it after a while.
Returning to a regular regime of exercise can be difficult. Often it isn’t that physically challenging as much as it’s hard to get yourself into that state of mind once again. Luckily, there are things you can do to trick yourself and get the ball rolling. And before you know it, you won’t be able to stop.
Start small
Exercising often can have a snowball effect. Once you’ve started there’s a great chance you’re going to continue and push yourself further. Start with a simple morning run around the park. It doesn’t have to be an intense run, but make sure you get up early in the morning and actually do it. It may also be a good idea to bring a buddy with you to make sure you actually run. Increase the speed and the length of your runs slowly and you’ll be back on track.
Make a plan
Making a detailed plan can be inspiring. This means that you need to go beyond the idea of an exercise but actually work out the details and make appointments. Find an easier workout routine than the one you had before and plan how long it will take you to get back on track. Make a date at a gym and clear your schedule for the time you’ve chosen. If it’s necessary you could pay a personal trainer as well because spending money on it makes it more real.
Prepare a gym bag
A well-prepared gym bag is a prerequisite of a good workout. Taking the time to get everything that you need can get you back in the mood to break a sweat. The bag should contain a few motivational workout shirts, clean towels, a couple of bottles of water, an MP3 with a workout soundtrack and some power bars. Also, it might be a good idea to invest some money in a fitness tracker. That way you can follow your progress and be warned when your heart rate is too high.
Take a 30 day challenge
30 day challenges, also known as don’t break the chain challenges, are a great motivational tool. Basically, the goal is not to miss an exercise during the whole month. You can set up a workout you’ll repeat every day or you can make the exercises more difficult as time goes by. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a day off. They are very important so factor them in as well. However, even on days off, you should at least do some light exercise. Once a month is over, you will want more.
Don’t be afraid to fail
Even if you do all of the above there’s a chance you won’t get back on track. Have in mind that this is a possibility and don’t worry too much if it happens. It’s your body and you can take as much time as you need to get in shape. Don’t be discouraged, take a few days or weeks off and try again, and eventually, you will get there one way or another.
