As women who often put others first, maintaining motivation for our fitness journey can sometimes be a challenge. But fear not! We’ve got some steps below for staying on track, even when motivation wanes. Brushing your teeth is probably not the thing you look forward to most, or the thing you think, about all day. Yet, you still do it daily (hopefully 2 to 3 times a day according to my dentist 😉 ).
At Northglenn Health and Fitness, we believe in empowering women to prioritize their well-being using unconventional methods because that’s what we need. Let’s explore three essential steps to ensure you establish habits and routines that will be your rock when motivation drops. Just like brushing your teeth. 😁
Step 1: Start Small and Consistent
When establishing new habits, start small and be consistent. Break down your fitness goals into manageable daily actions. Whether it’s a 10-minute walk, stretching when you wake up, or a moment of mindful breathing, commit to doing it consistently. Consistency builds momentum and makes it easier to stay on track. Doing something 3 times a week consistently for 4 weeks is much better than doing it for 6 days in a row and then quitting. Know yourself, start small.
Step 2: Create a Daily Ritual
Designate a specific time each day for your new routine. Treat it as a sacred ritual, just like you would for any other commitment. By incorporating movement or nutrition into your daily schedule, it becomes a non-negotiable part of your day, ensuring you won’t miss out even on challenging days. Just like brushing your teeth. It’s not written on a schedule, but only because you’ve been doing it for years, consistently.
Step 3: Find Joy in the Process
Discover activities that bring you joy and make nutrition and fitness enjoyable. Whether it’s dancing, swimming, hiking, or personal training to build strength, find what resonates with you. When you genuinely enjoy the activity, it becomes easier to stay motivated, and you’ll look forward to incorporating it into your routine. Still needs to be on that calendar though!
Calendar These Habits for Daily Motivation:
- Morning Routine: Kickstart your day with a quick morning stretch or a large glass of water. This gentle start sets a positive tone for the day and boosts your energy. If you can get up at the same time each day and do your morning routine first, you get bonus points;).
- Evening Routine : Plan your next day, at a minimum, the night before. Knowing what’s in store for tomorrow makes it easier to stick to your new routine and make sure it stays at the forefront of your mind.
- Add Habits to Your Calendar: If you want to make it stick, it has to be a priority and it has to be on your calendar. If it is, no one can book over it, you won’t forget and you will follow through much more than if it is not. If it’s not on your calendar, is it going to be a priority for you? Meal planning, cooking, shopping, doctor’s appointments, kids’ practice, personal training session, swimming at the rec center, etc. All these things should be on your daily planner or calendar.
Your Reliable Routine
As you build lasting habits and routines, you’ll find that you won’t need motivation because your habits are a constant companion. These routines will be your fallback, providing structure and stability even when motivation dips. Once your routine it set, it becomes a part of your life. You don’t need motivation to brush your teeth. It’s not fun or exciting, but it’s something we’ve done for years so it’s a non negotiable. Until your meal prep, fitness, training sessions, are a part of your non negotiable, add them to the calendar to save you when motivation fails you.
Join our empowering community at Northglenn Health and Fitness, and together, we’ll build habits that inspire lasting motivation and help you become the best version of yourself.
If you’d like our 31 Days of Habits Guide, email jennifer@northglennhf.com and I will hook you up!
Or if you want to have a coach hold you accountable? Well, that’s what we do! Click here to set up a 10 minute call with us to get started!