Motivation – is it the Fuel Your Workout Needs?

Are you struggling to find the motivation to drag yourself out of bed before work to go to the gym? Or, don’t want to sacrifice an extra hour of Netflix for an hour of sweating on a spin bike?

Well don’t worry, you’re not alone! A recent survey found that ‘over 2/3rds of gym goers aren’t motivated by their workout.’

So, how can you get (or bring back) that love for the gym? Here are Rugged’s top three tips to help you stay motivated when working out.

Tip 1: Work out with a friend or in a group

When you’re working out with a friend it’s not just a workout, it’s social time. Plus, it gives you motivation to push yourself harder, and for longer because it gives you someone to compete against. They’ve managed to squat 30kg for 8 reps… I’m going to make it 10! Another motivator for those who workout with friends is the ‘guilt factor’. When you’ve scheduled a gym session with a mate, you’re much less likely to cancel and let them down.  

Group workouts have similar benefits to working out with a friend. Ultimately, you’re all in it together and encouragement could be just the motivation you need.  Many gyms include classes as part of their membership, with some focussing solely on group workouts. F45 is a great example of how gyms are developing this class culture.

Another benefit of classes is that they are instructor led, which means you’re guided through the whole workout. The instructor will help you with any exercises you are struggling with and will make sure you don’t injure yourself with incorrect form. The best instructors will also be a huge motivational factor too and will know how to get the best out of everyone.

Our suggestion: pick a class or two that you like the look of, turn up and give it a go - you could be a natural. And once you’re booked in, you’re more likely to attend.

Tip 2: Work out in a way you enjoy and mix it up

It’s so important to do something you enjoy when exercising. So, if you dread using the treadmill but want some cardio, try the cross-trainer or the spin bike instead. HIIT workouts and circuits are also a great alternative. They’re short, speed focussed workouts that often include exercising all major muscle groups. Doing exercise that you enjoy, means you are much more likely to be motivated and stick to it, rather than being a clock watcher.

Try something new:

If you feel like you’re stuck in a bit of a rut, this can be seriously demotivating. This could be due to the fact that you’ve been following the same program for months and have hit a plateau. So now is the perfect time to mix it up and try something new. You may discover a love for CrossFit style workouts, or might decide to turn to the CardioWall to get in some high-intensity speed and reaction training. Many people find doing something new is exciting, so give it a go!

Tip 3: Gameify your workout

Here at Rugged, gamification is at the core of everything we do. Everyone loves to play games, whether it be a quiet game of scrabble on a Sunday evening, or a manic game of Fifa on the Xbox. 

Taking the love of gaming and putting it into a workout can really increase your motivation by creating competition and rewards. Using the CardioWall is a great way to do this… flashing lights and scores to beat, stimulating you in both a mental and physical way. What’s not to love?

How to Gameify your workout:

The fitness industry has heavily adopted gameification in recent years. For example, using a Fitbit gives you daily challenges for steps, calories, minutes exercised etc. and on top of this, you have lifetime challenges – have you walked the entire distance of the London Underground? It’s a simple concept, but great for increasing motivation to walk the long way home, or run a few extra minutes each time you get on the treadmill. Another great example of motivation through gamification is Zombies, Run! This app gets you running to complete various missions within the game. Being chased by zombies is sure to get you to run a bit faster.

So, if you do feel like you’re not entirely motivated by your workout then don’t worry, you’re in the majority. But why not try out one of these tips and let us know how it goes. Motivation is often the fuel for exercise.

by Simon Heap & Lucy Manley