The last resort trick if you really can’t find the motivation to work out
If you really, really struggle with the motivation to start working out, and to stay consistent, I’m going to give the “last resort trick”. If that doesn’t work, I think it’s very unlikely you’ll ever work out, so at least you can give up on the idea completely, and not worry anymore haha. At least in the short term, maybe you’ll change in the future of course.
So the trick is based on the very well known fact that the most difficult part, for most people, to do an activity, is to start. It’s the same for homeworks, for work, for answering your emails etc…
So this trick focus only on creating a habit to start. I warn you it is only recommended for “hardcore newbies”. Those who really, really, have a low motivation. And never managed to work out more than a few times. Not recommended for those who already work out a little bit regularly.
What’s the trick?
For 3 months, every two days, put on your sport clothes, like you’re going to work out, and then take them off immediately. It should last 30 seconds or 1 minute total.
Do not work out, do not do sport, just focus on this simple task of putting your clothes you use for working out, and taking them off. Don’t miss it. And do it regularly for 3 months. Congratulate yourself everytime you do it, and even more so after 3 months. Put a reminder on your phone to do it, or you’ll forget too many times at the beginning.
Why it can work?
There are 3 reasons.
1-Because it is so easy to do, you can’t “fail”, and it will show your brain, and yourself, that you are indeed capable of creating a “new habit” in your life. Even if a very easy one, it’s still satisfactory to see it’s possible. Like brushing your teeth, it’s an easy habit, but a useful one. Creating a habit is the best path to success in an activity. It’s easier to do something by habit than by your will. Read the “Power of Habits” if you want to know more. 3 months is generally considered a very good length to have an habit imprinted in your day to day life.
2-After 3 months of doing something regularly, we generally consider it has became an habit. Something very easy to stick to, that requires no motivation at all anymore. And as putting your sport clothes on is the start of any working out activity, you have now created a habit about the most crucial and difficult thing to do for people who want to start working out, which is… starting your session. When you will want to start working out for real, at least you have the starting blocks already in place.
3-It’s almost impossible to “fail”. It’s so easy, and requires so little time, to put your sport clothes on and taking them off, that you won’t have to worry about motivation at all. If you really struggle, it’s always better to do “baby step”. Steps that are super easy to do, and gradually improve. Then, you need almost no motivation to do it. If motivation is your weak point, it’s a good way to go around that weak point.
After those 3 months, now imagine:
What would have been the benefits, if after putting your clothes on every two days the last 3 months, you also went for a little 10 mins run before taking them of? Not that far away from what you already accomplished right? So now try to add that in your routine, for 3 months, for instance ;) Or anything else you want to do of course, for 3 months, and see how it goes. If it’s too difficult, reduce the activity. Never, never, rely on motivation (you apparently don’t have any, otherwise you would not be reading this article haha), just rely on habits building slowly.
Also, if you can’t stick to this extremely simple routine for 3 months, of simply putting your sport clothes on, at least you know for sure that, for now, you should not try to work out. If you can’t stick to that, you won’t be able to stick to a real work out routine. Don’t worry about it for now. It’s a very good indication that something is not ready in you. Try again a few months later, or next year, to see if something changed. But my guess is that for most people, who just lack motivation, it’s really easy to do. Even for the hardcore newbies ;)
Have a good day :)
