5 ways to stay motivated this summer

Fallen off the wagon? Check out our 5 ways to stay motivated this summer.

Working out in summer can be fun, but it can also seem tedious and boring when everyone else seems to be outside in the sun. However, it’s important not to lose sight of your goals, and forget the hard work you’ve put in to get this far.

Change your playlist

If you’re working out and you have a set ‘gym’ playlist, you’re going to know when certain songs are about to come on, the pace of them, and you’ve probably heard them a thousand times already. Music has an incredible influence on how you perform in the gym – it can really get you motivated, but it can equally strip you of motivation. Change it up every few weeks and go on the hunt for some new songs that make you want to get up and get out there, as this will be reflected in your gymming performance.

Do it back to front

Your set workout can get tedious, day in day out, so mixing it up by starting with your last exercise and ending with what usually would be your first will keep your mind guessing – almost as though it’s a fresh routine. Although the routine consists of the same exercises, doing them back to front keeps your body guessing, too! So it’s also a great way to help shock your body if you have reached a bit of a plateau in your results.

Bring a friend along

When you’re lacking motivation, bringing a friend along to the gym can help. Doing exercises together is fun, it makes working out more sociable and you don’t feel as though you’re missing out on time with your friends to go to the gym. Working out with friends means that they can push you to achieve your best, and you have to answer to them if you’re thinking about skipping a workout! Also, it adds a little excitement and often a healthy competition between you and your friend, which is sure to keep you motivated.

Set some near-future goals

If you’re trying to lose weight, don’t focus on the big goal number, as you can get too caught up in this and if you don’t see results immediately, it can cause you to become fed up and lose motivation. Set yourself attainable, short-term goals that you’re more likely to achieve. You’ll gain more and more motivation as you start seeing the results and achieving those short-term goals. Similarly, with goals regarding working out, set yourself a goal for when you’re going to lift a heavier weight, or run an extra kilometre and stick to it. If you’re focused on your near-future goals, working out doesn’t seem so tedious, and without going too hard on yourself, you’re much more likely to achieve what you set out to do.

Train outside

What better way to take advantage of the sun than to throw on your gym gear and do an outdoor workout? Set yourself a routine and do a mini HIIT class outside in the sun! This way, it won’t feel like you’re missing out on the summer by being stuck in the gym, and you’ll also be doing something a little different, meaning your interest in your workout will likely increase again!