Tips on how to stay motivated with exercise
Have you ever started doing something with the best intentions, only to lose motivation and give up halfway through? Maybe you started a new exercise program and quit after a few weeks (or days). All along, you know that if you just stuck it out, you would get the desired results. But crikey, it’s hard to stay consistent long enough.
I confess: Sometimes, I don’t want to teach my classes.
Whether it’s due to the weather, lack of sleep or general slothness, I think, “Wouldn’t it be nice to do nothing.”
Let’s face it; fitness is hard for most people.
Without some accountability, it’s easy to fall off the wagon and feel overwhelmed by trying to get back on.
Being a full-time fitness instructor has been a great way to keep me on track because when I commit to a class, I turn up for that class. As much as I wish I could have the willpower to go for a run or ride my bike every day, the reality is that my motivation comes and goes, and when it does, it’s nice to know that if I’m scheduled for a class, I can’t just bail out (or at least not quickly).
Plus, one of my best motivators is knowing that other people depend on me. When I know people are showing up for a group fitness class, I will want to ensure I am there. My ego will not allow me to let other people down. That is something I can’t live with.
The other benefit is that there is no excuse to skip the workout because that’s what being a professional is all about. You are part of a community of people who motivate others and help them set their goals, so you must walk the talk yourself.
Being a professional means constantly thinking about what exercises we’ll be doing next and how I can increase the intensity or make it more fun and exciting. This also satisfies another motivational driver: the opportunity to share my knowledge with others who may not know what they’re doing yet and want to get fitter/stronger/healthier. I love showing them different exercises or how they can modify specific movements to get stronger without hurting themselves.
Trust me; I certainly would not be going to the effort if this was for my own fitness goals.
Teaching a group fitness class requires concentration and focus, reducing the mental space my brain has to create excuses and justify skipping a workout. With participants depending on me, I know I must show up and lead by example. Accountability makes it easier for me to stay committed to my goals.
Even when the Covid pandemic hit, I realised how amazing what a little accountability can do.
Posting on social media about a free class made me appear even when I knew I wasn’t being paid. It kept me sane and healthy, and I avoided the excessive slothness that I knew I had the potential to do. So, in the end, I am happy that I chose this career as a group fitness instructor because it helps other people and it helps me to move a priority.
Signing up for a Virtual Workout Membership can be a powerful way to stay motivated and on track with your fitness whilst providing you with exercise ideas for your classes. My Virtual Workout Membership gives you access to 100’s group fitness formats, including, Gymsticks, Low Impact Aerobics, Step, Swiss Ball, Body Conditioning, Stretch and mSwing.
Love this piece, describes beautifully the accountability instructing requires, and how I felt when teaching. Makes me realise how much I miss it, now I’ve moved countries and don’t have the paper compliance to teach, and now it’s been over a year, and I thought I enjoyed the break away….. it possibly not, thank you for the thought provoked💖
Thank you for your feedback Carolyn. You are definitely not alone with how you are feeling. Thank you for sharing your situation.