I have committed this sin number of times. I bet you’ve done it as well. I am talking about starting to work-out, being full of positive energy and grandiose plans but then gradually skipping exercise and then, eventually, now showing up in the gym again.
Do you know what month is the busiest in any gym? Of course it is January, the first month of the year. It is the first month after we’ve made our New Year’s resolutions. In about 2-3 months, the gyms are half-empty again. And this continues year after year. So, predictable.
OK, everyone knows this fact. But what can we do to avoid committing the same mistake (or a sin) this time? How to keep ourselves motivated over longer period of time?
Darya Rose, a neuroscience PhD, offers a very simple rule: “don’t skip two workouts in a row“.
Motivation is not an easy thing to come by. I am talking about consistent strong motivation, not the one that disappears quickly.
To keep yourself motivated in whatever you are doing, you need to make it a habit. Of course, you will always face circumstances, which will prevent you going to a gym, like a birthday party of your loved one, an urgent assignment or just feeling unwell. However, if you try not skipping too many (more than one) exercises in a row, your habit will endure. You would not need to force motivation on yourself as going to the gym will remain one of your habits. And doing something as part of your habits is easy. If you have a hard time constantly visiting the gym and your life is getting on your way, perhaps you should consider working out at home?
So, why don’t you try following this rule next time you missed your gym session?
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