As many of our regular routines are restricted during quarantine, it can be difficult to find the motivation to concentrate on exercise. With repetitive days, working from home and a lack of proper fitness facilities it can be hard to stick to your workout routine. With everything going on, staying active might seem like the least of your concerns, but taking care of your fitness goals and exercising regularly can provide tremendous benefits for both your mind and body.
If you find that your motivation to stay healthy during the pandemic has gone elusive, here are 5 tips that can help you get back on track and stay focused on your fitness goals.
1. Set a daily routine
Relying on random spikes of motivation to exercise won’t help you in the long run. Analyze your day and find out a specific time that you can dedicate to exercise without being bothered by anything else. Similarly, eat on a schedule and keep your portions in check. Instead of exercising whenever you like, sticking to a regular schedule will help you stay focused and keep your goals on track.
2. Join a virtual class
Relying on your own will power might make it feel difficult to commit to your fitness routine. Instead, it’s better to get an accountability partner that can help keep a track of your progress. You’re more likely to skip if you know someone else is keeping an eye on you. Just like fitness trainers, there are many streaming services out there that post multiple online fitness sessions per week. Such services can help you stay accountable and keep committed to your goals.
3. Track your workouts and be specific
Instead of aiming to “get in a better shape” try setting specific goals such as walking for 30 minutes in the morning/afternoon. You can also try fitness tracking apps to keep a record of your progress. Being more specific will help you get a sense of achievement every time you fulfill your goals, stay accountable, and thus help you stay motivated and encouraged to keep on going.
4. Go outside
Unless your area is under strict lockdown, you can always get the help of the great outdoors. It won’t only give you more space to work in, it will also provide a sense of relief from staying home all day. Take a walk, ride a bike, jog, and try to exercise as much as possible. Just remember to put on your mask and take extra care of maintaining a safe distance from others.
5. Set S.M.A.R.T goals for fitness
Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Setting your goals with these aspects in mind eliminates any generalities and guesswork and adds clear intention as to what you want and how much you have achieved. Setting goals like this will help you stay accountable and motivated, thus more in tune with your fitness goals.