How to Stay on Track When You Don’t Feel Like It

How do you stay on track when you’re tired/stressed/over it? What can you do to stay motivated or get re-inspired? These 6 simple ideas are the trick.

A few weeks ago, you saw the light. You were excited – ready to pay any trainer, buy all of the vegetables and run any number of miles. You felt inspired.

So, what happened?

This week feels like a mess. You have no desire to drive to the gym, never mind run 3 miles. You found yourself getting up in the middle of the night to grab a spoonful of Ben & Jerrys (you never do that)! Where did your motivation go?

Fact is, that’s normal

Some days are going to be amazing! Woke up at 6 am, energy for days, meal prepped through next Tuesday.

And other days are going to feel like the perfect storm of stress, work and mishaps slammed into you full force.

The truth is, you won’t always feel like “stick with it”. You won’t always feel like exercising even if you crushed 6 workouts last week. Ordering the side salad instead of the fries might not always feel like the easy/best/most needed choice. You might actually wonder “what happened to me”?

So what do you do? How do you stay on track when you…

Really…

Just…

Don’t…

Feel like it?

How to Stay on Track When You Don’t Feel Like It

#1: Take a break.

If you need a break, take it! There’s no rule book that says that in order to be healthier, to get fit or stay on track that you must be 100% on point every single day.

Take a day, two days, a week(!) off from training. Give yourself a chance to miss that adrenaline rush. Order in tonight. Do your best to order some vegetables but if broccoli turns out to be General Tsao that’s okay too. One meal will neither make nor break your progress. The only caveat to that meal? If you make the conscious decision to order something you know isn’t the healthiest option – enjoy the heck out of it! This is a #guiltfree break from the norm.

#2: Call a friend.

Call a friend who always has your back. Tell them you’re feeling uninspired today. Ask if they’d grab a coffee and go for a walk with you. Your exercise for the day becomes a social engagement. Sure, you’re more excited about the latte and gossip session but you’re still out there moving.

The point is that you are never actually going it alone. Everyone person and their brother/mother/sister/father has some sort of fitness goal or small understanding that being healthier is the best bet to live a long happy life. You might end up changing the trajectory of that friends day/fitness goals!

More on fitting fitness into your relationship >> figure out how to reach your goals together.

#3: Write down your Why.

When you started your diet plan and/or this workout program you were excited about the fat loss/strength gain/muscle building. But more than that, when you closed your eyes you saw an image of what you want to achieve. You saw and felt your why!

Why do you want to lose 20 pounds by summertime?

Why do you want to run a 10k?

There’s an emotional meaning behind your goals. Take out a piece of paper and write a letter from Future You to Now You. Let Future You talk about how she feels, how confident she is, how strong she’s become and what she can do now that she wishes Now You could do and know about.

#4: Revisit your goal.

If you’re no longer feeling inspired by your goal or program it may mean that it’s time to reach for something different. We often hold onto the idea of a goal that no longer serves us. It’s possible that the goal you are in an on-again, off-again relationship with just isn’t getting you going anymore.

#5: Show up for just 10 minutes.

Give yourself complete, non-contestable permission to stop working out in just 10 minutes. Most likely you will decide to stay just a bit longer. Maybe you feel better once you start to move. Or maybe you just don’t feel like going through the hassle of heading to the locker room so soon after you left it. Either way, you’re at least doing enough to keep you heading in the right direction.

#6: Make it a friendly competition.

Gather a group of friends who are all going after some sort of health or fitness related goal. Commit to something together: completing 4 workouts this week, drinking only non-caloric beverages or meal prepping through the weekend. Whoever doesn’t follow through with the commitment treats everyone to a coffee next weekend.

That kind of mini competition, albeit entirely friendly and well-intended, can be just what it takes to relight your fire. Even if you are not competitive by nature the vibe of the goals and the knowledge that you’re not in it alone is enough to inspire you.