You have been booked solid with work meetings, deadlines and paperwork. The kids have games and after school events. The house work needs to be done and you still have errands to run for your parents. There just does not seem to be enough hours in the day.
Everything seems off track.
You haven’t been packing your meals as usual so you have been just trying to make due with what you can pick up on the go.
You exit off the highway with every intention of hitting the gym. You pull into the parking lot of the but you just feel exhausted and overwhelmed.
“why does it seem so easy for everyone else?” You think to yourself.
You feel overwhelmed by your schedule. It has taken the wind out of your fitness motivation.
How can you get it back and keep it?
Feel Your Fitness Motivation!!
Here are 5 tips that you may find helpful:
1. Keep motivational quotes and positive affirmations handy for quick reference.
This can be on cue cards or post it notes. It might seem crazy but posting these in obvious places where they will not be missed can really help you when you need it. Read them over as many times as you need to. Remind yourself why these particular quotes mean something to you. This may just help you get the focus back that you need to stick to your goals.
2. View yourself and your health as a priority.
The truth is simply this…You are no good to anyone else unless you give some time back to yourself. We get so busy with work and family that is very easy to put ourselves at the bottom of the totem pole. This is counter productive to your well being in the long term.
Schedule your workout time like you would any other appointment. Even if all you have is 15-30 minutes. Some exercise is better than none and it will serve to make you better in all the roles that you must fill.
3. Ease up on your expectations.
It is important to have goals and to go after them with focus and direction. That being said..we can sometimes put excessive burden on ourselves when we don’t feel that we can keep up with the load. Remember this. It is about consistency and not perfection. Get to the gym, eat that meal, plan ahead. Do a workout at home if you need to. It will not be perfect all the time but if you are consistent in your actions then the results will continue to manifest even when you are short on time. Just be creative. If you cannot prepare a meal ahead then pick up a healthy option or have an emergency stash of protein shakes and healthy protein bars on hand. Consistency…not perfection!
4. Plan Ahead.
One of the best ways to stick to your goals when your schedule gets tight is to plan ahead. Not being prepared causes stress which will absolutely derail any motivation that you have when you are pressed for time. Book your workouts ahead, plan your meals ahead, pack your workout bag the night before and leave it by the door. Do what it takes to be prepared.
5. Just do it.
Nike knew a thing or two when they made this their slogan.
We can be very good at talking ourselves out of things. That little voice in your head can say things like ” I will go to the gym tomorrow” or ”I will get my diet back on track after this meal.” Sometimes the best solution to staggering motivation is to just take action right away. Quiet that voice in your head. Go to the gym anyways. Just do it and you will feel better for it.
Just remember that there is no replacement for a great attitude. Life gets busy but if you stay positive and mindful of what your true goals are then you will keep the motivational fire burning no matter how busy you are.
Be sure to check in for my Tuesday post. I will provide some delicious protein recipes that will keep you on the fat burning fast track.
Yours in health,
Tammy
