For many women, the end of your workday becomes an internal battle of whether or not you should make that after-work workout. A promise at seven in the morning to hit that evening boxing class becomes a different type of commitment the closer it comes to the end of the day. So many things can happen during those eight hours that can deter or discourage you from working out all together. If you’re going to make evening workout plans, you have to stick to an all-day motivational game plan in order to get your cardio on.
If you go to work with your gym bag packed, you’ve already taken action towards preparing yourself for that evening class. Your gym bag will serve as a physical reminder of your workout plans. Additionally, it will give you one less excuse and provide you with one less errand. You can go straight to the gym from work and you can’t blame it on forgetting your sports bra at home!
If you eat a burrito for lunch, your food coma is not going to be the motivational push to get you to the gym. Eating a heavy, unhealthy meal on your break will leave you tired and lethargic. You’ll feel more inspired to sit on the couch rather than breaking a sweat. Eating a healthy lunch will help you feel good about yourself. It will prompt you to continue those good decisions at the gym!
Make gym plans with a friend that doesn’t work with you. If you don’t work together, it will lessen the chances of coming up with excuses as to why you shouldn’t hit the gym over your lunch break. It has been proven that having a gym buddy increases the chances of getting people to the gym. A gym buddy will hold you accountable and help you follow through on that Pilates commitment.
Design a system of rewards and consequences to help you stay motivated! If you go to the gym after work for a consecutive number of days, you can reward yourself with either that new pair of shoes you have been eyeing or a spa day! If you cancel on your gym plans, no TV for a month! Set goals, rewards and consequences to get yourself internally inspired before killing it at the gym.
Sometimes, all we need is a little reminder about how we were feeling at our most inspired times. Write down on a post-it note why you want to go to the gym later that day. When you are debating whether or not to follow through as you clock-out, look at your post-it note. This brief reminder will help you stay motivated.
This sounds cheesy and maybe even cliché, but never underestimate the power of subliminal repetition. Pick your favorite gym quote that gets you inspired and set it as the background of your phone. Actively and subconsciously looking at that quote every time you pick up your phone will definitely help you get into that motivated frame of mind all day long!
Do you have any tips to get to the gym after a long day at work? Comment below or tweet us @entity_mag!
