3 effective ways on how to stay motivated and end a workout slump

It’s no secret, getting into shape can be difficult, but getting out of shape is oh... so simple. You get busy, work piles up, you’ve got all those fun social events to attend, so on, so forth.

So, you’d be forgiven if you’ve got yourself into a bit of a workout slump. Forgiven, but not excused!

If you’re at a loss on how to start going to the gym, here are three effective ways to starting your gym workout routine.

Set realistic goals and track progress

If you’re heading to the gym after an extended absence you will need to ease your way back into things. If you go too hard, too quickly, you will run the risk of burnout or injury – and nobody wants that.

Set small, incremental goals and make those your priority. This can be as simple as starting your gym workout routine by doing 10 pushups and crunches. Then increase this number by five or 10 each time you work out. You’ll be seeing progress in no time.

This goal setting can also extend outside the gym. Try to carve out at least 30 minutes each day for a vigorous walk. If you need more convincing, our article, the benefits of walking daily, is a great place to start. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Tools for tracking progress

While it may be tempting to splash out and buy the latest and greatest tracking technology, we think there are more efficient ways to do so. There are countless free apps out there that can help you track your progress. Or why not consider a fitness journal? This can be a great activity for both recording your physical gains and improving your mental health – as we discovered in our recent article on the benefits journalling has for our mental health.   

Mix up your routine

Nothing zaps motivation quite like repetition. Think about it, you can’t spell routine without rut. Doing the same workout routine can lead to performance plateauing, not to mention boredom. Make sure you mix things up a bit when exercising and try new activities. Variety is the spice of life!

How can you go about this? Here’s a loose weekly guide you could follow to add a bit of variety to your workout:

• Monday: Hit the gym with your Personal Trainer.
• Tuesday: Relax and unwind in a calming Yoga class.
• Wednesday: Take the day off to rest and recover, maybe even treat yourself to a massage?
• Thursday: Live out your Tour de France fantasies in a Cycle class.
• Friday: Bash out all the week’s frustrations in an intense Boxing session.
• Saturday/Sunday: This is completely up to you. You can hit the gym, go for a swim, take a long walk, or prep healthy lunches for the week ahead.

If you’re quite happy with your current workout routine, good for you! But if you want to get a bit more out of it and don’t know how, check out our article on the 7 ways to make your go-to workouts more effective.

Work with a Personal Trainer

If you or someone you love needs encouragement to move more to get out of a workout slump, a Personal Trainer can make a huge difference. Personal Trainers will work with you to craft a personalised training program to meet your needs and help you achieve your goals.

Personal Trainers will also keep you accountable. They will make sure you stay on track when starting a gym workout routine. Plus, Personal Trainers will be able to observe your emotional state.

If you’re having an off day – which will happen – it can affect your performance. A Personal Trainer will be able to see this and know when to push you hard and when to ease up. This extra care can make a big difference when it comes to staying motivated to exercise.

Final words

There you have it, three effective ways on how to start going to the gym. Set achievable goals, mix things up, and get a little help from some friends. Adhering to these will help you to get out of a workout slump.

To make things just a little sweeter, book a club tour and check out our facilities at Virgin Active.