Remove the word can’t from your vocabulary for best results.
Excuses have a way of delaying dreams. If you don’t want to spend the remainder of your life wondering what would’ve, could’ve, and should’ve happened, you’ll need to create a rock-solid plan. Far more important than devising it is actually putting it into action. After all, your body isn’t going to get into shape just by you willing it to!
People are inevitably “busy” and come up with a million reasons why they can’t do something. If you’re the type of person who puts things off or never seem to find time to go to the gym, know that you’re not alone. There are a lot of master procrastinators in the world. In fact, you may even recognize some of the excuses that they make because you make them, too.
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses
Here are some of the most common reasons people cite for not working out:
- “I don’t have time.” Making exercise a priority is how you get around scheduling issues. By determining when the best time of day is to squeeze in a workout and putting it on your schedule, you’re able to see how you can still manage to exercise and get everything you need to get done finished in a day.
- “I can workout at home.” If you say that you can’t but don’t, you’re going to need to get a gym membership right away. Exercise bikes are not meant to be clothing racks. If you can’t get yourself to work out while your family is at home, excuse yourself to go to the gym.
- “I don’t feel like driving to the gym.” Maybe you can find a fitness center or gym closer to home or work to cut down on the time it takes you to drive there.
- “I got too much to do.” So does every other person that made it to the gym today.
- “I don’t want other people looking at me.” Believe it or not, most people are so focused on their fitness routine that they don’t even notice who is around them.
- “I don’t know which exercises to start with.” That’s what gym staff and personal trainers have been hired to help you with.
Many people’s excuses have to do with time. Many men and women are self-conscious because they’re afraid of judgment from people at the gym. What they don’t realize is that they’re missing valuable opportunities to condition their bodies, meet with personal trainers and other fitness enthusiasts, and build a fitness practice that promotes wellness in their life. If you find it easier to make excuses than it is to workout, refer to the next section for ways to get over that fast.
Solutions That Help Drive Change
Whether you decide to take action or not, you’re making a decision. If you want to get past your excuses, you’ve got to be creative in your approach. Sometimes the answer is right under your nose but you haven’t yet discovered it. Opening your mind to the possibilities fitness offers helps you overcome whatever holds you back and stifles your progress.
Do this to solve the challenges you encounter while working out:
- Team up with a family member or friend who also wants to be healthy. Make it a point to meet up with them as often as possible at first. If you’re worried about not having a lot of time to socialize, schedule some time after the gym to go to lunch. The idea is to have someone in your corner that knows and supports you in your pursuit for better health. You can make decisions together as a team initially and once you feel comfortable, pursue your own workout schedule if time conflicts keep you from getting together often. Feeling like someone is cheering you on makes fitness something you want to do rather than something you feel like you have to do.
- Reward yourself every time you reach a goal. If you want to feel motivated to work out even when there are other things to do, you can come up with a reward system that gets your body moving. Think about the type of rewards you were given in your past and how they made things exciting and fun. Come up with a list of small gifts you can give yourself for surpassing a fitness goal. Things like a new pair of running shoes, an hour massage, and even an afternoon get-together with friends are enough to keep you working toward your goals. In the end, you’ll have achieved more than you imagined by investing time and effort into improving your health and strengthening your body.
- Try something new. If the idea of running on the treadmill doesn’t excite you, find other forms of exercise to engage in. If you’re stumped on what to do next, hire a personal trainer to help challenge you. Letting them know your fitness goals helps them design workouts that target the areas of your body that need the most conditioning. You’ll have new workouts to try and won’t grow tired of the same routine. It will give you something to look forward to.
- Pace yourself. Remember that becoming fit is a journey, not a sprint. It’s a lifestyle change that requires time and devotion. If you think you’re going to go from being somewhat fit and healthy to extremely fit in no time, you’re misinformed. To maintain the results that you’ve achieved, you’ve got to continue to work for them. That’s why you see people in the gym with rock solid bodies. They have to keep up with their fitness routines to maintain their results. Don’t rush success. Instead, give your body and mind time to adjust and get comfortable with your new healthy lifestyle.
If you’ve been guilty in the past for making up excuses for not working out, now is the time to challenge your way of thinking. By applying the solutions listed above to your daily routine, you’ll be able to move past your mental blocks to embrace the type of lifestyle that you know is best for you. You’ll be able to create true momentum in realizing your fitness dreams through dedication and application.