Staying Motivated at Home
Okay, let me just start off by saying that nothing about our current situation is easy. Isolation is never easy. I’ve been fortunate enough to be sheltered-in-place safe at home, but many people face a very different reality. Believe me when I say I am brutally aware of how much of a privilege that is, and I am grateful for it everyday.
It’s important to remember that social media is a collection of highlight reals. Sure, you may see me hiking most days and working out at home but what you don’t see is me binge watching Netflix for hours with a bottle of wine and indulging in snack after snack after snack.
Whatever you’re doing to get through, it’s okay.
It’s also important to accept that you will never be motivated to workout, prep healthy meals, etc. every single day of the year. Motivation comes and goes, and that’s okay! The sooner you accept that, the happier you’ll be. Sometimes I’m on a health kick for weeks, sometimes I go days without wanting to move a muscle.
There’s no need to be so hard on ourselves - listen to your body, rest when you need to and don’t feel bad about it.
With that being said, being genuinely tired and needing a rest day vs. being lazy and making excuses are two very different things. However, if you aren’t enjoying at-home workouts or aren’t feeling motivated it’s fine and you’re fine. We are living through a pandemic after all.
Some things that have really helped me stay on track the last couple of months:
Implementing small healthy habits into my routine
Habits + routine go hand in hand. It’s important to note that quick fixes are not sustainable! Small healthy habits, however, can develop into bigger lifestyle changes. These could be as small as having a glass of water first thing in the morning, or committing to at least 10 minutes of stretching each day.
My mom and I decided we’d try and hike 5 to 6 days a week when shelter-in-place began back in March. About a month in I got into the habit of doing a quick bodyweight workout on my mat as soon as we got back (I figured I’m already in my workout fit, why not?) and now I find myself squeezing in a workout even on days that we don’t hike. Baby steps, y’all!
Recruit some friends
A couple of friends and I completed one of Chloe Ting’s workout programs and got into the habit of sending each other daily “sweaty selfies”. Now we’re on workout program number two and I can’t tell you how many days I’ve had where I just did not want to move, but seeing their post-workout photos never fails to get me up and on my mat! (Check out Chloe Ting’s free workouts programs if you haven’t already, so so great!)
Start your day off right
This is something I’m still working on, but I think it’s a great idea to get up and out of bed as soon as you wake up. No more scrolling endlessly through social media or falling asleep again — make your bed, do your skincare, go on a run, whatever your routine may be and you’ll find yourself feeling more productive throughout the day. Get up + move.
Focus on your “why”
It all starts with you. So, ask yourself — why are you doing this to begin with? I noticed a huge change in mentality when I stopped focusing on my appearance and thought more about how I felt when trying to stay consistent with my workouts. Now I prioritize moving my body and eating whole foods because I’ve found a new level of self-confidence and self-love since starting my fitness journey. I feel more energized, get better sleep, crave less junk food and ultimately feel better.
I challenge you to take some time, do some self-reflection and figure out your “why.” Dig deep. You can only find so much motivation from external sources, but at the end of the day it’s gotta come from within you.
How are you staying motivated? Let me know in the comments or message me on IG @LifeWithCosy. Until next time.
☾☼ Cosette
