Get Your Exercise Mojo Back
Struggling to get out the door? Here are my tips to get your exercise mojo back:
- Give yourself a day off. A surprise day (or two) of rest might be exactly what you need.
- Pack all your gear the night before.
- Listen to some new tunes while you get ready to leave (or while you workout).
- Call up a friend to see if they want to go with you!
- Try a new location or a new activity. Variety is the spice of life.
- Reduce your desired time, mileage, or pace to something easier and more manageable. You’ll dread the workout less if it’s shorter, and you can always extend it when you’re out there.
- Eat a breakfast of champions! You all know my personal favorite: a bagel, a banana, tea/coffee, and water.
- Plan your reward. Are you going to come home and take a nice, long nap? Lay by the pool? Go on a shopping trip? Read a book?
- Read your own or other people’s race recaps and race videos. Recall your previous accomplishments.
- GO! GET OUT THERE! Stop stalling!
- When the going gets tough, remember, “I can do anything for 5 minutes.” When the 5 minutes are up, do it all over again.
Rock it out!
How do you reclaim your exercise mojo?
Posted by: Caitlin 54 comments
Posted in: All Posts
on May 2nd, 2010 at 8:47 am
Fabulous tips! I find that changing routine can really help – a route you haven’t done in a while, that kind of thing.
I just rediscovered my running mojo when I slowed my pace down a tad – it was like I stopped being so competitive with myself, and could just enjoy it again!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 8:51 am
That was a AWESOME video! You sgould be so PROUD of yourself, i am
. You really do set goals and knock em down one by one, give yourself a pat on the back for rocking everything you set your mind to!!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 8:52 am
Great tips! I love a change of scenery–i.e., new locations. And I leave everything behind in terms of technology. It’s very freeing.
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:03 am
Good tips
The only one that works for me… Just do it. Don’t think about, don’t stop, just go.
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:06 am
“I can do five minutes” is my motto! I can always convince myself that there’s time to do twenty minutes of exercise.
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:15 am
Good advice, Caitlin
When I feel discouraged or really not in the mood for a workout, I definitely give myself some time off. Sometimes just a few hours is all I need, and then I feel more up for it!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:18 am
Great trips!
For me, the hardest part is getting there! I tell myself to get dressed and go. Once I’m working out, it’s generally okay
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:30 am
Thanks for the tips! I agree that sometimes that hardest part is getting out of bed and getting dressed. I know if I can make it into my workout clothes I can accomplish my goal for the day!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:45 am
the biggest motivator for me is to remember how i’ll feel afterwards, listen to some music that pumps me up, and lacing up my shoes. those always get me moving!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:47 am
ROLLER SKATE! By substituting a fun exercise I get back into the work out. How can you not be smiling while roller skating?
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:48 am
Many of these tips are ones I use on myself already! Great list!!!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:55 am
Even if you fit in about 10 min of exercise a day…
is that still going to help your body quite a bit in the short/long run?
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caitlin Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:36 am
YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:58 am
I love this post
My favorite way to get myself up and moving is to remember that it might suck right now, but I know I will feel amazing afterwards!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 10:02 am
Great tips! Breaks are essential for me to get back in the groove – if I feel I’m doing too much and try to force myself to keep going – I’ll definitely burn out.
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 10:13 am
I take time off. Sometimes there is just too much on my plate and something has to come off, and a lot of times because I am so busy i dread working out, so taking a couple days off usually helps. I have bee sick for a week and havent done anything and now I am ready to go again!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 10:27 am
I just “do what I can can”. Always feel better after!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 10:41 am
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE! And Boom Boom Pow… 2 of my favs to work out to. <3
Awesome taste!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 10:49 am
Reminding myself how short, in the scheme of things, a workout, even a marathon, is really helps. I just keep reminding myself that a long workout is maybe just 2-3 hours of a WHOLE WEEKEND. Then I make sure to plan lots of treats like laying in my super comfy fluffy bed and watching DVR’d Gossip Girl or something totally awful but wonderfully entertaining
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 10:52 am
Those are great tips! That’s pretty much what I do when I am feeling unmotivated.
I wish it wasn’t freezing and raining right now; I desperately need a nice outdoor workout to break up the gym monotony. But I just can’t get enough motivation when I know I’ll be miserable the whole time!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 10:53 am
Thanks for the motivational tips to get your booty out the door!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 10:59 am
Great tips! I definitely need to get my exercise mojo back!!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 11:07 am
I love these tips!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 11:08 am
I’d say taking break day or two does the trcik every time. Seems like after a few days off my body is *craving* a good sweat!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 11:31 am
I love the 5 minute tip! That gets me through runs sometimes!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 11:36 am
I have definitely used all your tips at different times. We all know there are days when the couch is just too comfy and exercise just doesn’t seem very enticing. I think these tips also work when coming back from an injury. Starting back up is always a challenge, because it’s not as easy as it was before.
By the way I love that you have Britney Spears on your playlist! Her music always helps me run a few more miles.
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 11:42 am
great tips!! making a new playlist always does it for me
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Great post! I wasn’t really feeling my run today and near the end I kept telling myself just 10 more minutes, you can do anything for 10 minutes… Just 5 more minutes… and so on. It definitely helped. Thanks for the great tips!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Thanks for the amazing tips, Caitlin!
Loved your playlist… I LOVE Supermassive Black Hole! Haha.
Loved the PB-filled bagel, too!
Lovely pics.
Have a wonderful Sunday, love!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 12:29 pm
These are great! The one that always works for me is trying a new activity. Group classes help a LOT if I feel like I’m burnt out on whatever workout I’ve been doing.
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 12:37 pm
New music, a change of routine – even if it’s just changing my weight lifting routine up a bit, or a few days off always helps me. This weekend my stomach went nuts for most of Saturday, and I am thinking I will take Sunday off since I’m still feeling off.. I’d rather feel fine than get sick.
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Good tips! I do similar things: do a shorter route, promise myself a smoothie when I get home, etc. This morning I went for a run and it was so hot (I’m visiting Tampa) that I was going to quit almost right away, but instead I just cut the route as little short. And I was glad I did it!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 12:45 pm
You are right. Sometimes all it takes is a day off and I am ready to go again. Also, a new playlist does wonders!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 12:52 pm
I have lost my exercise mojo completely
I am going to get it back this week!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Great tips! Changing up the routine is a good tip. I also think sometimes if you’re not feeling the workout, just go do it anyway. I almost always feel better for doing it.
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
I <3 supermassive black hole …. I'm going to stop stalling now.
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 3:13 pm
These are all really good tips, I’ve used tons of these before. I switched my runs from the afternoon to the morning lately, that was a nice change too.
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Do you ever have a problem with pollen/dust/who knows what getting into your eyes during long bike rides? Wearing sunglasses doesn’t seem to help!
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caitlin Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 5:37 pm
i do not…
sorry!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 5:41 pm
[...] Get Your Exercise Mojo Back – Healthy Tipping Point [...]
on May 2nd, 2010 at 6:15 pm
New music always gets me going – I re-do my playlists every few days!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 7:25 pm
I can totally relate. I don’t have any mojo right now
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 8:00 pm
I always change the music on my ipod when I need to reclaim my mojo. Trying a different form of exercise always helps too.
Bombs Over Baghdad is an oldie but goodie that is usually on on my playlist!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Thank you so much for posting these tips! For the past 2 days I’ve been struggling to get myself back into an exercise routine, and I think you just gave me the motivation I need. Here’s hoping I find that MOJO!
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on May 2nd, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Great tips. I’ve used them all before but one. I don’t have any friends that would bike or run with me though one is feigning interest so maybe someday.
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on May 3rd, 2010 at 2:39 am
Great tips girl. Sometimes it is hard to pass up a day of exercise but when your body is asking for the rest, it makes the next workout SO much better.
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on May 3rd, 2010 at 2:53 am
[...] May 2, 2010 For the past couple of days my exercise motivation has been sort of lacking. I haven’t been sleeping well at night so when it came time to workout all I really wanted to do was nap. Today I decided to take a few tips from Caitlin and reclaim my exercise mojo. [...]
on May 3rd, 2010 at 4:33 am
Fabulous tips! I’m glad you’ve got your exercise mojo back.
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on May 3rd, 2010 at 6:44 am
Sometimes I give myself a WEEK off!! Not working out for several days makes me really miss it, so I’m pumped and energized when I get back to it
Going to exercise classes helps motivate me a lot too. Great tips!
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on May 3rd, 2010 at 9:07 am
Your tips and all these comments are so helpful. I have been in a funk with working out lately and I think it’s mostly stress and lack of sleep(I’m an early morning workout person) and when I don’t get enough sleep watch out. I guess that’s my tip- be well rested, otherwise it makes for a phoned in session. Thanks
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on May 3rd, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Hahaha looks like fun!
For me, to get my exercise mojo I usually just tell my mom I’m going out for exercise later, at a predecided time; that way, I have someone to almost innocently guilt-trip me into exercising (”Oh, weren’t you going to exercise?”)
Wei-Wei
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on May 9th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
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