Get Your Exercise Mojo Back

on May 2, 2010
in All Posts

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.

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  • Listen to some new tunes while you get ready to leave (or while you workout).

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  • Call up a friend to see if they want to go with you!

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  • Try a new location or a new activity.  Variety is the spice of life.

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  • 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.

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  • 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?

{ 54 comments }

 

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs May 2, 2010, 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!

  • Shell May 2, 2010, 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!!

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) May 2, 2010, 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. 😀

  • Diana May 2, 2010, 9:03 am

    Good tips 🙂 The only one that works for me… Just do it. Don’t think about, don’t stop, just go.

  • La May 2, 2010, 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.

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit May 2, 2010, 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!

  • Karla May 2, 2010, 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

  • Kara May 2, 2010, 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!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) May 2, 2010, 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!

  • Gracie (complicated day) May 2, 2010, 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?

  • maria @ Chasing the Now May 2, 2010, 9:48 am

    Many of these tips are ones I use on myself already! Great list!!!

  • Jae May 2, 2010, 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?

    • caitlin May 2, 2010, 10:36 am

      YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!

  • Camille May 2, 2010, 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!

  • jen trinque @ recipes for creativity May 2, 2010, 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.

  • Heather (runningwithsass.com) May 2, 2010, 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!

  • Matt May 2, 2010, 10:27 am

    I just “do what I can can”. Always feel better after!

  • Jess May 2, 2010, 10:41 am

    SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE! And Boom Boom Pow… 2 of my favs to work out to. <3

    Awesome taste!

  • Meghan@traveleatlove May 2, 2010, 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 🙂

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople May 2, 2010, 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!

  • Kelly May 2, 2010, 10:53 am

    Thanks for the motivational tips to get your booty out the door!

  • Lisa of Lisa at Home May 2, 2010, 10:59 am

    Great tips! I definitely need to get my exercise mojo back!!

  • kate May 2, 2010, 11:07 am

    I love these tips!

  • Mary @ What's Cookin' with Mary May 2, 2010, 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!

  • Lisa (I'm an Okie) May 2, 2010, 11:31 am

    I love the 5 minute tip! That gets me through runs sometimes!

  • Stephanie May 2, 2010, 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.

  • Ariffa May 2, 2010, 11:42 am

    great tips!! making a new playlist always does it for me

  • Stacey May 2, 2010, 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!

  • Gabriela @ Fro-Yo Lover May 2, 2010, 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

  • Natalie @ Keep It Sassy May 2, 2010, 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.

  • Deva (Voracious Vorilee) May 2, 2010, 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.

  • Sara May 2, 2010, 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!

  • Kellie@obsessivelyhealthy May 2, 2010, 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!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) May 2, 2010, 12:52 pm

    I have lost my exercise mojo completely 🙁 I am going to get it back this week!

  • Lisa May 2, 2010, 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.

  • Amanda May 2, 2010, 2:14 pm

    I <3 supermassive black hole …. I'm going to stop stalling now.

  • Katie @ Two Lives, One Lifestyle May 2, 2010, 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.

  • Pamela May 2, 2010, 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!

    • caitlin May 2, 2010, 5:37 pm

      i do not… 🙁 sorry!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is May 2, 2010, 6:15 pm

    New music always gets me going – I re-do my playlists every few days!

  • Katherine May 2, 2010, 7:25 pm

    I can totally relate. I don’t have any mojo right now 🙁

  • Lily @ Lily's Health Pad May 2, 2010, 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!

  • Rachel May 2, 2010, 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!

  • John May 2, 2010, 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.

  • Courtney (Pancakes & Postcards) May 3, 2010, 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.

  • Helen May 3, 2010, 4:33 am

    Fabulous tips! I’m glad you’ve got your exercise mojo back.

  • Susan May 3, 2010, 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!

  • Juliene May 3, 2010, 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

  • Wei-Wei May 3, 2010, 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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