Drink Some Water :
Most of us are aware that staying well hydrated is important for your body's wellbeing, but dehydration can affect you more than just physically. It also has a negative effect on your brain, decreasing cognitive function and increasing lethargic feelings. If you find you are already in a funk before you even step foot in the gym, check your water consumption. Sip on some H2O to turn that bad mood around and give your brain and body a boost to tackle your workout.
Give it Five Minutes :
Some days you really, really, REALLY don't feel like working out, but dealing with the guilty feeling of skipping your workout isn't fun either. Here's a compromise: Tell yourself you just have to do five minutes. That's it. If you still feel bad or tired or miserable after five minutes, you can quit and go home, but give it your all for those five minutes. Once you get going, you'll want to do more, and it won't be quite as bad as you thought.
Pump Up the Tunes :
What if you were only one good song away from a better mood? Research shows that's not as farfetched as you might think. In addition to improving your emotional state, listening to upbeat music while exercising has been proven to decrease the perceived level of exertion at low-to-moderate intensities. If you're dreading your workout, take a few moments to load up a playlist of some of your favorite upbeat tracks, pop in those earbuds and let the music help improve your mood before you tackle the gym.
Phone a Friend :
You know you should get that workout in today, but binge-watching Netflix suddenly sounds infinitely more appealing. Before you park yourself on the sofa, take a few minutes to call (or text) a friend for a fitness pep talk. Sometimes a quick kick in the pants from someone we love can be enough to jumpstart our motivation and put us in a better frame of mind. A good friend will encourage you to remember why you chose your fitness goals in the first place, and they'll remind you that skipping out isn't going to get you any closer to those goals. A really good friend might even come join you!
Reward Yourself :
Somedays (Mondays, we're looking at you) it feels nearly impossible to motivate yourself to get things done. On these days, consider a concurrent reward--something you do while working out that helps you get through it. This could mean you save a favorite podcast for your run or a new TV episode for your time on the elliptical. Challenge yourself to watch or listen only during your exercise.