Let’s talk motivation…

It’s a conversation I have with people day in, day out.

‘How are you so motivated all of the time?’

‘Why do you always have so much energy?

‘Don’t you get bored of going to the gym?’

When you work in the fitness industry, people seem to think you’re a crazy superhuman machine, who’s full of beans 100% of the time.

The reality is, that just isn’t true! When you’re waking up at 5am, and finishing work at 9pm most days, of course you get tired. Heck, sometimes tired is an understatement. There are days when I feel like an absolute zombie, and the last thing I want to do is drag my butt to the gym.

Don’t get me wrong, some days the temptation to nap surpasses my desire to train. So I’ll let myself catch up on some Zzzs, and skip out on the gym – and that’s totally okay! Depriving myself of sleep is arguably going to be more detrimental than missing one session.

However, you have to draw a line. When motivation levels are low, it’s all too easy to talk yourself out of training. At times like this, you need that extra bout of dedication to help pull you through. I’m fortunate in that I genuinely enjoy moving, and never want to make a habit out of inactivity. If I don’t train, I feel blergh. Motivation levels drop, diet starts to slip and everything goes a little downhill from there.

This is a trend I see in others as well. That ‘day off’ soon turns to a week, then a month. Next thing you know, you’re five months down the line, 10kgs piled on and you’re ‘not sure where it all went wrong’. Hmmm.

For me, wellness and motivation come hand in hand; one spurs on the other. I’ve managed to establish that lovely little thing (and wondrously overused term nowadays) called ‘balance’, where my diet and training routine are flexible to fit with my lifestyle. I drink (occasionally too much) wine at the weekends, and take days off from the gym when I need/when my schedule dictates that I can’t fit in a session for myself.

So, returning to the question: how do I remain motivated?

Firstly, I freakin’ love my job. Yes, the early mornings can be a nuisance, but ultimately it’s very rewarding to help people make positive changes in their life.

Secondly, it’s about structure and organisation, but simultaneously about freedom. Somewhat counterintuitive, I know. The element of structure comes in making a habit out of the good stuff. My body knows that exercise is positive, and the gym is now a foundational part of my routine. I feel kinda lost without it.

Freedom lies in not punishing myself for the little things. If you don’t hit the mark every time, that’s ok. Skipping a session or having a day of questionable nutrition really isn’t the worst thing in the world. It’s not going to be hugely detrimental to your progress, so long as you get back on track at the first opportunity. Use the setback as a chance to push forwards.

Be ya own motivation and all that.

Feels gooooood to be back writing! Hope you enjoyed reading this, and feel free to post any thoughts below.

Peace xoxox