Pro Tip: 6 Ways to Boost Your Motivation
Think you’re too tired to hit the gym? Try doing it after a long day on the fields as a heavy equipment operator, like our Team Reflex Member Nicki Dery does.
“I work on a 10 on/10 off work rotation, meaning I’m away from home. When I’m at the work site, finding the drive to workout is the hardest for me – I’m bagged!” Nicki tells us. “But on the bus ride back to camp I’ll listen to music, and visualize the workout ahead to find my motivation. You’ve got to stay hungry for that pro card!”
With that kind of grueling schedule, we knew Nicki had some pro-tips up her sleeve to find the motivation to hit the gym, and maintain that incredible physique.
Over to Nicki!
Pro Tip: 6 Ways to Boost Your Motivation
Speaking from experience, I know what it’s like to lose momentum and motivation. Up’s and downs are a given in everything we do. We get sick or injured, we’re headed into the off season, or we’re just straight up bored. It happens to all of us – we’re just human after all. But if you want to reach your goals, you’ve got to show a little grit to push through the lows.
Here’s my tips for staying motivated.
- See Your Goal – athletes talk about this a lot, but it’s hard to stay focused and find the motivation to achieve it when you’re just staring into the great abyss. Get specific about what you want to achieve. Then create a vision board, add pics to your fridge, watch daily videos, or follow inspirational social media feeds. Do whatever it takes to keep that goal top of mind.
- Embrace the Challenge – achieving a goal takes work. There will be sacrifices and challenges, but embrace that as part of the ride. Life begins outside of your comfort zone. It’s important to remember your goal and stay positive about the hard work it takes to get there.
- Make a Plan – research actually shows that people who have a plan are more likely to reach their goals. Schedule out your workouts, do some meal prep, and schedule any milestones you hope to achieve to keep you on track.
- If You Fall Off the Horse… – you know what they say, you’ve got to get back on it! Don’t let setbacks bring you down. If you’ve missed a couple of workout or had a few too many cheat meals, don’t let it destroy your desire. Think back to the reason you started aiming for this goal and dig you heels back in. Only you have the power to control you actions and thoughts.
- Find Your Spark – you may admire the physique of a bodybuilder, but if the training doesn’t excite you, maybe it’s not for you. Being fit and healthy takes many forms, you’ve got to do what works for you. Find a new activity, a new challenge, or a new focus (it’s not bad to have lots of goals!). Switch up where you work out, or even download a new playlist. Sometimes it’s just a little tweak that can help ignite that spark.
- Log Your Progress – there’s nothing like seeing real, measureable results to keep your motivation high. No one likes taking the ‘before pic’ but when you see how far you’ve come it will keep you pushing hard right to the finish line. Not a picture person? Try logging the weights or reps you can do, how fast you can run, or jot down how those jeans feel.
There’s no doubt that achieving a goal takes work, but it’s totally worth it. Work towards what you want every single day. Small little changes can add up fast, so instead of just thinking about what you want, get out there and make it happen!
Got a goal you’re trying to achieve? Tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for a change to be featured. We are #ReflexNation.
